The war in Ukraine is taking a very heavy toll on the citizens of that country, and together with the fear and destruction that is occurring, persons are now forced to flee and relocate to other accommodating countries, many of which have nobly stepped up to the plate, to lend a helping hand in the face of the ongoing carnage.
Individuals and nations from all around the world, including the United States, are now helping, to a greater or lesser extent, depending on their ability, their capacity, and their willingness to help, in spite of the existential threats and risks which do exist, and for this, they must be commended, for we are indeed our brother’s keeper.
And whenever or wherever a crisis arises upon the face of the earth, those who can, should help where it is possible, for we are all a part of the great family of humanity and what affects one country adversely will ultimately produce ripple effects in some other places, for none are to think of themselves as being the untouchables.
There would be continued pain at the pump and the price of wheat, corn and other staples will skyrocket as a result of supply shortages. Thus, we give kudos to every nation, and every individual who steps up to the plate to fulfill our duty to humanity at such a time as this, for we have a moral obligation to help others who are in grave danger.
What we are witnessing is not a mere aberration, it is the fulfillment of Bible prophecies, which point to a time in earth’s history when trouble after trouble, and perplexities of nations will be coming upon the planet, with increasing frequency, and severity, as precursors to the second advent of Christ, who will usher in His everlasting kingdom once and for all.
But in the interim period, we should study the true story of the “Good Samaritan”, for it contains very valuable lessons for us who are tasked with helping wounded humanity, not only in Ukraine, but all over the entire world, for this is the essence of the great commission given to every believer in Christ. Let’s read:
Luke 10: 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, do you think, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
In the story three different attitudes are displayed, and they are of great interest now, especially as our fellowmen in Ukraine are under fire. The priest who was supposed to be the most spiritual of the three, did not even stop to take a look, and by his inaction he manifested that he had no interest whatsoever in the misfortune or welfare of his fellowmen.
If one’s religion produces stoical unconcern for the wellbeing of others, it most likely does not originate with God, for we’ll read in the scriptures where true Christianity would always move us to spend, and be spent for the eternal good of others.
True Christianity is not only about studying all the great laws, principles, and doctrines of the Bible; it includes actually putting them into practice in our interaction with our fellowmen, or else religion will become a hands-off, theological farce that would be ultimately centered on rites and ceremonies.
Thus, as the priest in the narrative passed by on the other side, his religious beliefs didn’t interface with the needs of suffering humanity, and as such, it had become vain and empty, lacking the nuts and bolts of what God has stipulated as being true godliness.
To be a stickler for form and ceremony, while at the same time turning a blind eye to the dire needs of others, is to take the husks of religion, without the kernel of love. Indeed, the very essence of Christian life is service, and wherever the lives of those whom Jesus came to save are being taken wantonly, well- directed efforts to help should be made.
After the priest left the scene, the Levite showed up and he, at least, manifested some curiosity, yet his interest did not lead to concrete actions. It may be that his feelings were stirred, and that conscience was awakened, to the inhumane attack on the man in question, yet he did not go any further than his interest being peaked.
It is not good enough for persons to show interest in the plight of others. Interest, without concrete action is the equivalent of faith without works, for God does not evaluate persons on the mere interest that is shown; it’s the follow-up actions, that comes from the heart which gives one’s interest meaning.
It could be that the Levite was considering the risks associated with helping the wounded man, because if robbers could do this to the stranger, what then might be his fate, if he stopped to help? And thus, he decided to go on his way, without following the promptings of his conscience.
The third person, who is the focus of the story is the Samaritan, who may not have known the scriptures as the priest and Levite did, yet, by his actions, he demonstrated that the love of God was in his heart. He did not allow risks to deter him from moral duty, and he went a step further by arranging for the man to be taken care of until he was fully recovered.
However, there is one important question that must have occurred in the minds of the three characters in the narrative, which will always loom large in our day whenever our fellowmen are in grave danger or may be suffering adversely; and this question now haunts the minds of many leaders of the nations, as well as individuals who may be disposed to help.
With the real threat of a nuclear retaliation, many nations are now grappling with this question, which must have surfaced in the narrative of the wounded man and the good Samaritan.
And we are not to believe that it is a question which pertains only to our fellowmen in Ukraine, and to the good Samaritan in the story, because even God had to struggle with the same question, when it was time to decide on rescuing humanity from the sinful wounded state that man would fall into, at the hand of an invisible tyrant. Here’s the question:
Should people who are in grave danger, be rescued only if there is no risk to us personally?
We will be focusing on this question for the rest of the Bible study, for the answer has great implication for the good Samaritans in our day, who would be encountering not only the physically wounded, but also the spiritually wounded. So, here is the same question again:
Should people who are in grave danger, be rescued only if there is no risk to us personally?
When the Ebola virus reared its head in one country doctors, without borders had to consider the same question. When Delta, and Omicron variants were ravaging the United States, and all other countries across the world, nurses, and healthcare workers all had to grapple with the very same question.
When hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf coasts and many people became stranded on their rooftops, as well as the many who were drowning in the floods, and the hundreds who were wounded physically or emotionally, the very same question that must have arisen in the minds of the priest, the Levite, and the good Samaritan, arose again.
When the tsunami tore up Indonesia, and hundreds of thousands of its citizens became displaced, and many more went missing, the same question would have needed to be answered, because any person, nation, or humanitarian organization that decided to be a part of the rescue mission, would encounter some level of risk. So, we ask again:
Should people who are in grave danger, be rescued only if there is no risk to us personally?
Firefighters have had to face the same question and anywhere there is a potential threat to one’s person the same question will need to be addressed. Do we rescue wounded, suffering humanity, only if there’s no risk to us personally?
The reason why this question must be addressed and answered by each of us individually, is because the wounded man in the parable also represents all who have been spiritually wounded, and may have been left for dead, on the highways and byways of life.
In the preaching of the everlasting gospel, there are risks to those who go rescue the perishing, for some are ostracized, criticized and others suffer economic boycotts as a result. Whenever the truth comes into conflict with social norms, or philosophical ideology that is contrary to scripture, there is an elevated risk to any who would preach the unadulterated truth.
Therefore, in order to fully address the issue of risk, as it pertains to rescuing the physically or spiritually wounded, we would do well to observe what Christ had to go through to save us, when we were in dire need, for the scriptures teach us that our salvation cost Jesus very dearly indeed, as he came to save us from eternal ruin.
As the mortal adversary of man leveled his artillery against generations of people, we would have been helpless, like the wounded man in the story, unless Someone stepped up to the plate to rescue us, but in doing so Jesus exposed His own soul to the fiery darts of the wicked one, and in the process, Jesus finally lost His life.
And as the good Samaritan did in the narrative, God not only took the risk, but He went on to provide all that we would need in order to be fully restored. In many cases, rescuing persons who may be in grave danger would involve some level of risk. Therefore, as The God of heaven pondered our salvation, the prospect of inherent risk loomed large. Let’s read:
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 63] The plan of salvation had been laid before the creation of the earth; for Christ is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” yet it was a struggle, even with the King of the universe, to yield up His Son to die for the guilty race.
The angels could not rejoice as Christ opened before them the plan of redemption, for they saw that man's salvation must cost their loved Commander unutterable woe.
In grief and wonder they listened to His words as He told them how He must descend from heaven's purity and peace, its joy and glory and immortal life, and come in contact with the degradation of earth, to endure its sorrow, shame, and death.
Yet, Jesus made a deliberate decision to run the risk to save us, and it is because He did, why we are now given the opportunity to live eternally. Thus, issues of risk, pertaining to the rescue of fallen humanity are to be given due consideration, in the light of what Christ went through to save us.
The apostles of old soon found out that in order to rescue fallen humanity, they would run the risk of irking earthly authorities, and in doing so, many of them would follow in Christ’s footsteps, by suffering at the hands of those who would oppose the truth.
Often, after a great many people were rescued from the spiritual chains, with which the devil had bound them the apostles would have a “valley” experience in which an outright assault on their persons would be launched.
Thus, in addressing the issue of risk, as it pertains to saving the physically, and the spiritually wounded, those who follow where Jesus leads the way, must be reconciled to the fact that doing so will in some cases involve real danger. Let’s read:
Acts 15:25 It seemed good unto us being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 12: Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.
4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him.
The remnant people of God in our day are called to be good Samaritans, not only to heal the wounded and the sick through the health messages, and our medical missionary work but also to attend to those who have become spiritually wounded.
And just like the good Samaritan in the Bible story, and the apostles of old God will have us understand that rescuing persons from the grasp of devils will involve some level of risk, because, whenever, and wherever the truth is spoken, devils will be astir to prevent the wounded from being rescued.
In the story of the good Samaritan, it was robbers who had stolen from the stranger, and left him for dead at the side of the road. But, there are now robbers to be found in the form of philosophical ideologies which have invaded the hearts and minds of many people, and as a result, many persons have been left on the roadside, spiritually wounded.
Others have been wounded by the false doctrines which teach folks that obedience to God’s law is no longer binding upon men, and by this teaching, the floodgates have been opened for persons to indulge in unbridled iniquities, with all of the accompanying adverse consequences.
Some persons have been mortally wounded on the issue of marriage, for the many current variations of the sacred institution God had given to us originally in Eden, together with a plethora of philosophical or divergent views on the issue, are now eating out the very fabric of social structure, and separations have left many persons permanently wounded.
And thus, the original family unit as described in the Bible has, for all intents and purposes, been tossed out the window and in its place, any, and every type of union that can be imagined is, or has become the norm. Let’s read:
[The Great Controversy pp 583] In rejecting truth, men reject its Author. In trampling upon the law of God, they deny the authority of the Lawgiver. It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as to fashion an idol of wood or stone.
With many, a philosophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah; while the living God, as He is revealed in His Word, in Christ, and in the works of creation, is worshiped by but few.
Philosophy:
The study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved.
[G.C pp 583] The god of many professedly wise men, of philosophers, poets, politicians, journalists, -the god of polished fashionable circles, of many colleges and universities, even of some theological institutions, is little better than Baal, the sun-god of Phoenicia.
Thus, it is against this backdrop of most frightening departures from the word of God, that we are now called to be the good Samaritans in our day, for we are to preach and teach the unadulterated truth in our efforts to save the lost, and the wounded.
And as we consider the issue of risks, we, like Jesus, would have to make some deliberate decisions as to whether we would preach the truth at all costs, to save individuals who are in grave danger of eternal loss, or whether we will take the route of uttering smooth words, in order not to ruffle feathers. What we are referring to is as real as today is the 26th. Let’s read:
Acts 5: 25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Unlike the priest and the Levite in the story of the good Samaritan, the remnant people of God are not to present pleasing fables to appease itching ears in order to avoid the risk of backlash that might result. Let the chips fall where they may, because the good Samaritan decided to help the wounded, no matter the cost. Let’s read:
[The Great controversy pp 595] God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines, and the basis of all reforms.
The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority, not one or all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support.
As we consider both the import, and the impact of the three angels’ messages, we too would have to answer for ourselves the question we posed earlier: Should we rescue persons who are in grave danger, only if there will be no risk to us personally?
We are not to deceive ourselves into believing that the invisible robbers would hand over the spiritually wounded without a desperate struggle. Every inch of advance for the truth will be contested, and the entire arsenal of devils will be leveled against those who will preach the truth only, and nothing but the truth.
So, yes, it would involve risk; but as Christ left us an example for us to follow, we should determine even now, that come what may, regardless of the risk, we will be faithful to truth and duty, just like the good Samaritan, who once rescued that wounded person who fell among thieves.
Thus, we’ll end with a sobering passage of scripture to be given due consideration, as the outpouring of the promised latter rain is scheduled to bring all the inhabitants of earth to the valley of decision spoken of by the prophet Joel. Let’s read:
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
God Bless!