Madoff’s stolen statue returned — with a ‘lesson’

Love all? Even Bernie Madoff? Love Bernie? Why would anyone do that after what he has done to everyone else? Why would the consideration even be given to have anything toward Bernie except anger, hatred, disgust, or any other contempt toward a man such as this? One reason – because Jesus said so!

In Matthew 5:38-40 (New King James), Jesus says the following:

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

The first and biggest thing we must establish as Christians that are of The Truth of God’s Word is that God’s Word is soverign and trumps all other things, including our mind, our will, and especially our emotions. During events and issues like this with Mr. Madoff, its amazing how many turn to their emotions instead of the Word of God – and yes, I’m talking about Christians!

Secondly, let’s look at what Jesus has instructed in context of what happened with Bernie’s statue. Jesus specifically says, in verses 44 and 45:

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

I think we can all agree that what Bernie did has cursed many people’s and company’s finances and that Bernie has spitefully used many people and company’s finances for his own personal gain. Those are the facts, but look at what The Truth of God’s Word says – what are we to do to and for individuals like this? We are to “bless those that curse you” and “pray for those that spitefully use you.” Bless and pray for Bernie? Does he deserve that? What kind of God do we serve that commands that we “bless” and “pray” for someone like this?

Notice what Jesus says in verse 45 – “He (God) makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” What Jesus is saying here is that regardless of good or bad, just or unjust, right or wrong, God still gives His best for all to partake in because His love is available to all. Who are we to judge or say who should get what or how they should be treated when there is no partiality with God? It seems, to your mind, will and emotions, almost unfair that God would allow His best to still be available to a person like Bernie, but if God was a God that only loved the loveable, He would have never sent his Son, Jesus, and things would have been drastically different for all of us!

The Apostle Paul states in Romans 5:8 (New King James):

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That love, a love that turned its back on the sin within us for the sake of saving us, recreating us, and bring us back to right standing before God, is the same love that should be in and through us that helps us to see how and why we should “bless” and “pray” for a man like Bernie. It takes nothing of God or of what Jesus did to react and respond out of your body and out of a sin nature to look for ways to get your “jab” in on him. Any ole’ sinner who does not know Christ can do that! But it takes living out of the recreated, changed Spirit of God that lives within you to tap into the Love of God and of His Son to “Bless” and “Pray” for Bernie.

What’s interesting about this is that regardless of the person, God is that kind of God that He makes all of His best, His goodness, and the same salvation and life changing experience available to everyone, even to the point of them breathing their last breath! Recall what happened at Calvary when Jesus was crucified with the two criminals. We don’t know what these two criminals did, but it must have been bad enough to label them criminals. But let’s pay more attention to the way that these two spoke to Jesus and what Jesus’ response was to them. One criminal blasphemed Jesus and mocked Him saying and acting excatly as Jesus’ false accusers had acted. The other criminal rebuked the blasphemer and then humbled himself to ask for Jesus to just remember him in Heaven – this criminal even went as far as to call Jesus his Lord, which means he had given his life to Him in the midst of this criminal’s death. And notice that Jesus told this criminal that that day he would be with Jesus in Heaven! Remember, these were criminals and the one who had petitioned Jesus had even said that they were being justly punished for their deeds which they freely chose, but with just one change of heart, one turn to recognize Jesus as who He was to this criminal, God’s love was so great to save him, regardless of his past! THAT is the power of God’s love! That is the love we are to not only know and share among other Believers but we are to give towards ALL, regardless!

And that is The Truth!

PD2