The Ballestero Blog

“Help, I Need Medic!”

The wounded soldier’s weak cries for help were barely heard above the sounds of automatic gunfire. Yet, the Medic without much fear for his own safety bravely ran toward the wound soldier and knelt to help him. That’s when he too was shot by sniper fire.

• Yes, he knew the Geneva Convention said that it was wrong and illegal.
• Yes, he knew that the unwritten law of ethics between most nations forbade soldiers from knowingly firing upon a medic treating a wounded comrade.
• He hadn’t tried to convert to his patient’s religion.
• But he had still been shot anyway while he was trying to save a life.

An Ambulance Driver Puts On A Bulletproof Vest.

He asked himself, “What kind of person would say, I am willing to try to help any one even if it means getting shot?” Then dons his bulletproof vest and climbs into the vehicle.

Just because he walked into the room of a sick or injured person did not mean he wanted to join their political party, believe their ideas about the Bible, or agree with anything they think or do.

Just because he bound up a bullet hole in the victim’s chest and attempted to save a life doesn’t mean he wants to be a member of their gender or ethnicity. He was only there to keep them breathing. But that doesn’t stop the bullets from flying at him from gang members or killers.

• He’s unarmed.
• He is not hostile, nor a fighter. He’s in the lifesaving business.
• He knows it’s a crime to shoot him, but he gets shot at anyway.

Most large metro areas, and some not so large, hear shocking reports of an ambulance being fired upon. Why?

• The shooters want the victim to die?
• They enjoy killing a uniform?

I don’t have any answers. But I can remember when no ambulance driver or attendant felt the need to wear a bulletproof vest. Our society is truly sick when we kill those trying to help others. Is this a blood thirsty generation? You be the judge.

Today, Carrying A Bible To Help A Brother Who Thinks Different, May Get Someone Shot Too.

No, he doesn’t agree with the man that he is trying to reason with and restore. He’s there to influence for righteousness sake. Yet, sniper fire is meant to kill the do-gooder.

• He went remembering, “If a brother be overtaken in a fault…” but that didn’t stop the bullets.
• He went remember Priscilla and Aquila’s success in reasoning with Apollos, but it wasn’t the same for him.
• He didn’t have any success with his influence and got shot by snipers in the process.

Whether the story is about the battlefield of war, the sick and dying in our metro areas, or a brother in Christ going astray, the end result is apparently the same. The one trying to help is treated as the enemy.

We are all grateful that in the story of the Good Samaritan, all were safe and the restoration a success. The Samaritan wasn’t beaten for his involvement, but rather honored. Evidently, that was back then, this is now.

God Gave Us The Ministry Of Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

It is still the will of God for His children to help each other!

Now, For The Bottom Line:

What If I Get Shot At From Both Sides?

• Don’t shoot back
• Help try to help anyway.
• Some may refuse to be helped.
• If the one you try to help rejects your efforts, remember:

Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

What About The Snipers?

• They are not your problem.
• They’re God’s problem
• “His bookkeepers don’t make any mistakes!” – Carl Ballestero