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THE TESTIMONY OF THE SECOND MILE OR A COMPELLING ISSUE Matthew 5:41 TONY LLOYD LEWIS � � �During rule and reign of the Persian Empire there was instituted a law which gave the couriers of the king the authority to conscript the horses of citizens when carrying official business for the empire. The courier who, with a sense of urgency, had to deliver certain documents on time would ride his horse to the extreme.� Sometimes it ended in death of the animal.� They then had the legal authority to take the horse of any citizen they saw. To refuse to yield one's animal to the courier would result in a sentence to which there was no pardon. �� During the reign and rule of the Roman empire, the law had been amended� to include the actual using of not only horses but people themselves.� This is evident in (Matthew 27:32) when the Roman authorities constrained one, Simon of Cyrene. The scriptures say. "And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross."� In most cases, it was nothing so dramatic as the carrying of a cross.� Usually it was something as mundane as the carrying of a Roman's soldier's� shield for one mile so that the� soldier could receive a bit of respite. Jesus came along and took the burden of that law and turned it into a blessing.� He said,� "Whoever compels you to go a mile go with him twain."� That is two miles.� In other words don't just function on the periphery of what is required.� Go beyond the limit.� Turn the incident into a testimony. It would have been rather foolish for a believer to reluctantly carry a Roman soldier's shield for one mile and then try to tell him about Christ.� Just doing what we� have been compelled to do doesn't make our testimony effective and meaningful.� Only� obeying the letter of the law is no indicator of our spirituality, in fact, it is just the opposite, our lack of spirituality. � Even in the realm of the secular, just doing what is required is not impressive. For the most part, notwithstanding nepotism, those who are in positions of authority and hold prestigious titles are those who go beyond the limit. They are not limited to the one-mile requirement.� They live life in the second mile lane.� They are those who are willing to come in early, stay late, and be available to do the tasks that others have either refused, or left undone. Successful workers are not clock watchers. They are one's whose goal is to succeed and see it through, even if� it meant staying over.� They are project oriented. They are committed to the success of the whole. � Many of the great discoveries and inventions in human history were made because some scientist or explorer was willing to persevere.� When others turned the light out and went home for the day, they continued in their labors.� �When we function in the arena of the bare minimum, we hinder the release and work of the Spirit in and through our lives. The Master says, "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so?"�� The Living Bible Paraphrase puts it this way, "If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even scoundrels do that much. If you are friendly only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even the heathen do that." Many of the scribes and pharisee would obey the letter of the law, but would disregard the spirit of the law. Their thinking and observance of the law was diametrically opposite to that of the Lord Jesus.�� To the religious hierarchy weightier matters were the paying of tithes of their mint and anise and cummin. In other words the meticulous giving of their possessions. But to Jesus, weightier matters were the proper application of�� the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these should have been the issues that they should have emphasized.� The giving of our personal possessions in a biblical manner is right and proper, but not to neglect the other.� Luke records it this way.". . . for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Luke 11:42 Jesus had some rather choice and penetrating words for them.� The Master called them hypocrites because they majored in the minor and minored in the major.� They had no affection for the afflicted or help for the hurting. Let's further explore living life in the second mile lane, the lane where we can make a maximum witness of a united Christ to a divided world. It is the lane where our testimony can be most effective. It is the lane where God intended for us to travel on this spaceship called earth. In order to easily understand the truths couched within the next few verses, I want to compartmentalize the principles of this passage of scripture into the following points of discussion, the Magnificence of God's Love, the Mediocrity of Man's Love, and finally, the Maturity of Christian Love. When we study the Word, it is easier to comprehend when we look at it in understandable increments.� Given the command to study the Word is an almost insurmountable task.� However, I recommend that we approach it the same way we eat an elephant, one bite at a time. The Magnificence of God's Love First, the Magnificence of God's Love is that it is uninfluenced.� It doesn't matter what we do or what anybody says about us, good or bad, God's love is uninfluenced.� God will love us regardless.� According to Paul the apostle, nothing can separate us from the love of God. The Living Bible Paraphrase puts it this way. "For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels won't, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God's love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are-- high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean-- nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us." Romans 8:38-39. � Whether We Be, A hero or a hobo Prosperous or poor Bountiful or barren Skilled or unskilled � God will love us regardless.� We cannot score points with God.� Neither can points be taken away.� Unlike man's love, God's love is uninfluenced.� We can turn man away from� man but none can turn God away from man. Sometimes you can meet a person, and before you can make an adequate assessment of whether or not� pursuing and developing a relationship with that person is wise from a biblical perspective:� Some unbridled tongue (James 1:26)� can get on the prowl and cause you to view that person in a negative light. But, with God no matter how strong and vicious the tongue is, the love of God is uninfluenced by what others may say. It is uninfluenced by the circumstances of life. Man will love 'if' the circumstances are favorable.� It is in the nature of our fallen-ness to put certain conditions on love. To love 'if' you possess certain qualities, holdings or assets.� For example if your� bank account is substantial, 'if'� you have a gold or platinum card.� The love of man is 'Iffy and Because.' � The love of God, on the other hand, is 'In Spite of'.' In spite of what we have done, in spite of what we may have r don't have, in spite what we may be or may not be, God's love is uninfluenced. Then not only is God's love uninfluenced but God's love is also comprehensive. The term comprehensive means full and complete coverage. If it is comprehensive, it is sufficient in all circumstances. The love of God is all sufficient, and it is all inclusive. God's love is full coverage.� If a thief breaks in and steals something from me� it's covered If moth and dust doth corrupt, it's covered.� If� I make a mistake, it's covered.� It doesn't just cover some.� It covers all.� It just doesn't meet some needs.� It meets all needs.� It just doesn't reach out to a few, but it reaches out to all. � The love of God is so universal and all-inclusive in its coverage that the God of the galaxies has offered to us a check made� pay to the order of.� All that is required is that we write our names in the blank. Where the Word of God Says, � "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD." Psalm 116:13. Write your name on the line that says, � �Pay to Order of�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Rom. 10:13.� Write your name on the line that says, � �Pay to Order of�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� " . . .� let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev 22:17. Write your name on the line that says,� � �Pay to Order of�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ". . . I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 1:2.� Write your name on the line that says,������� � �Pay to Order of�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � Not only is the love of God comprehensive, but God has sufficient resources to back up his love.� He can, not only talk that talk but, he is well able to walk that walk.� If he says it, he can bring it to pass. Some can promise everything, but can't deliver anything. Without resources, they can make attempts but, all unsuccessful. They can cloud up but they can't rain.��� Then there are those with a multitude of resources, yet unlike God, they are limited, they are not comprehensive. The Bible says of Abraham that he was, ". . . very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold." Genesis 13:2. After his sojourn in Egypt, his wealth was significantly increased, but even he was limited in his resources.� Solomon the Bible says, on a yearly basis, "Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold." I Kings 10:14.� The Living Bible Paraphrase, equates the value of it at� a quarter of a billion dollars.� In addition to that, he had revenue from all the traveling� merchants and traders from all of the kings of Arabia, and all the governors of the country. Yet, when compared to the resources of the God of the Bible, he was, but a mere pauper. God has the resources to back up whatever he promises.� His pocket book is bottomless.� He is never short until payday.� His checks never bounce. His credit card is never rejected. His� American Express is beyond platinum.��� The psalmist declared . . .� The earth is the Lord's the fullness thereof, the world and they� that dwell therein. All the gold and silver and the cattle of a thousand hills belong to the Lord.� Not only the cattle of a thousand hills but the hills that the cattle are on belong to the Lord.� He is able to meet the need. Whatever our needs are, he is able to meet them.� He is the Author and Finisher of faith. - the Hope of glory. � If You Need . . . A lawyer, he has never lost a case. Advice, he is the Wonderful Counselor. A way, in he is the Door. � God has sufficient resources to back up his love.� This is why his love is� magnificent.� Man's love on the other hand is mediocre.� If something is mediocre, it means that it is less than excellent.� It is less than superior.� It is earthbound and mundane. And it cannot meet heavenly standards. The Mediocrity of Man's Love Man's love, unlike God's love, can be influenced.� It is incomplete.� It is faulty, flawed, and fragmented. The love of man reserves the right to hate.� Man can claim I love you one minute and turn on you the next.�� �Many have gone through experiences where they assumed that someone was their friend?� One day you talk to them and they are just as friendly and warm, cordial and gracious. The very next day you contact them, and their voice is cold and indifferent. Sometimes they are even hostile and vicious.� It makes one wonder whether or not they are the same person. Keep in mind that is not necessarily something that you have done or failed to do. The fact is that the love of man reserves the right to hate. Then not only does the love of man reserves the right to hate, but, the love man reserves the right to wish evil upon another.� Fallen human nature is� base and often� vulture-like.� It waits and wishes for you to stumble and fall so that it can devour your flesh.� No wonder the Bible says, curseth is the man that put his trust man and maketh flesh his arm. The love of man not only reserves the right to wish evil upon another.� But, it also reserves the right to persecute and apply pressure.� There are some that can't love you unless you think like they think, and obey their rules and regulations.� There is not enough room in their love for you to express your own individuality. They apply pressure to try and keep you beneath them.� What the mediocre love of man fails to realize is that as long as it tries to keep a person down in the ditch, it in itself, cannot rise above that same ditch.� When it does rise up, those whom it has confined to the ditch will get up.� The only way we can be what God� intended us to be, is to let others be what God intended them to be. When we put boundaries and pressure on others, all we are doing is putting those same pressure and boundaries on ourselves. � The Maturity of Christian Love How then can man escape the boundaries and limits of mediocre love?� There is only one way and that is mature Christian love. Mature Christian love can unshackle the chains of envy and jealousy that binds us.� Mature Christian love can set us free.� It can cause the church of Jesus Christ to function at her maximum capacity. It can make us a steadfast witness of united Christ to a divided world.� It can make us authentic and� attractive to a plastic and ugly world.� It can go beyond the limits.� It can go beyond the finish line. The wonderful thing about mature Christian love is, we don't have to wait until the bye and bye.� We don't have to wait for pie in the sky.� We can enjoy a slice of victory in the here and the now.� �Mature Christian love can become a reality because we have a Divine example. The gospel writers painted for us on the pages of a holy writ a portrait of the doings and deeds of the Man from Galilee.� They vividly demonstrated for us how he lived and how he loved.� They� showed us how he loved his friends, his family, his disciples and even his enemies.� We have in Christ the perfect portrait on how live and love as mature believer.� Just looking at the portrait will not bring us success in living life in the second mile land. It can only become a reality, if we, like Jesus told his nocturnal visitor, Nicodemus, we must be born again. The Master said in the text,� "Ye have heard that it has been said that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemies . . . but I say unto you love your enemies, bless them that curse you.� Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite you and persecute you. If you just love them that love you then what reward have ye . . . do not even the publican do the same."� Don't be like the heathens, take the limits off your love. Move over into the second mile lane.� Only then will our testimony be validated. Only then can we make a difference.� Witnessing in the first mile is without substance.� However, when we go beyond that which is required and demanded of us, the second mile, then we make a meaningful and significant statement about love and our relationship to the Savior and�� Lord of our lives. Jesus went the second mile.� His love was without limits. He went the second mile when he was marched up Calvary's hill. He went the second mile when he gave his hands and feet to be nailed to the old rugged cross. He went the second mile when he said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." � Second mile love hung there from the sixth to the ninth hour. Second mile love hung there until the balance of the universe was changed. Light began to protest by leaving the post she had been on since the dawn of time. The sun wouldn't stay on course The moon began to drip with blood Darkness drenched and draped the entire whole earth The rocks became uneasy1.� The earth began to shake and shiver When he gave up the Ghost, they took the crucified Jesus� and buried him in the tomb of another man. But early Sunday morning, while it was yet dark, he gave back the borrowed tomb.� He no longer needed it, because he had conquered the grave and was raised with all power in heaven and in earth! � � � � � � �