Our country is divided along many lines, including race. We are divided on politics, on religion, on gender, on economics, on education, and on popularity just to name a few. So, how does a child of God approach the differences which divide us?
First, I suggest we see things the way they are. Differences exist. Some are in our genetics and are beyond our control. Others are differences which divide us by choice. For example, the color of our skin is a physiological condition that comes from our DNA and our environment. But the political system we identify with is based on choice.
So, let’s not pretend that differences do not exist. They most certainly do. And the physiological differences are the ones God has endowed us with. The color of our skin depends on our pigment. That pigment is influenced by a number of factors and can change over generations and through our environment.
Of all differences, perhaps skin color, or race, is something which divides us most deeply. We often attach value to the color of our skin. We make assumptions and stereotypes based on how dark or light someone is. And yet, Paul tells us:
“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,” (Acts 17:26 ESV).
The same God that made the dark man also made the light man. In fact, God made us all. And further, we are told man is made in the image or likeness of God Himself. And so, we learn that all men share common characteristics: we are eternal; we have free will; we have intellect which separates us from all other parts of creation.
Yes, we may look different on the outside. This is something we cannot deny. But what does this mean where it counts? Does the outside affect who we are on the inside? Sadly, many believe it does. But from the beginning,
“God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26a ESV).
I put this before you as a biblical perspective to consider.
First, I submit skin color is solely a physical trait. Nothing more. We are neither better nor worse as a person because of the color of our skin.
Second, I submit that inside, God made us all the same. We are all in His image. In heaven, when the physical is stripped away, all men everywhere will look the same. Not identical, but we will look like our Father who made us. Without pigment, I suspect by looking at us in the image of God, we will have no idea what the color of our skin was while we were alive on the earth. An outsider would tell a black man and a white man standing side-by-side in heaven that they must be brothers because the resemblance is uncanny. They both look a lot like their Father.
Third, I submit that we and God are the same color. While I have no idea what that color is, or even if color in the way we think of it will exist in heaven, I do think that all men everywhere will be in the image of God in a way that makes it markedly obvious that we are all His children.
If the biblical perspectives I present are accurate, then why should we see and judge our fellow man merely at skin level? Is our assessment of each other so shallow that it can be defined as skin deep? Doesn’t our Father want us to see all of His children the way He sees us? When He looks at black, white, brown or yellow, doesn’t the Creator see His image looking back at Him?
Unfortunately, we have devolved into siblings who seem to be more interested in dividing rather than uniting. That means we need to learn how to esteem others better than ourselves. We must learn to understand how the divisions mankind has thrust upon each other has affected us and shaped our perceptions and our realities. While I believe that skin color does not matter in the eyes of the Creator, and it shouldn’t matter in the eyes of each other, we have made it matter in a way that I am convinced grieves the Father who made us all.
But in Christ, we can have a new heart created in us; a spiritual heart that causes us to see all men as children made in the image of the Almighty God. The blood of Christ will not make us colorblind per se, but it will allow us to see each other as we truly are seen in the eyes of God. And it is this heart created anew which will help us see the brothers and sisters we have from all the colors that God has created in man. And this heart will help us see how damaging our shallow divisions have been upon each other.
When I get to heaven, I suspect I will not be white. I’m not exactly sure what my body will look like, but I know it will look a lot like the God who made it. And I suspect that this will be true for everyone from all over the world who are reading these words.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27 ESV).
Do you ever watch the news and think, “What is going on in this country?” We see people smash and grab what does not belong to them. I think to myself, “Don’t these people know that they will stand before the Lord to give account one day?”
We stand by and watch evil men and women steal, kill and maim. But we throw the book at the maskless child and peaceful protesters.
Well, I am reading Proverbs. Let me close by putting forth wisdom for our age as the wise man begins this collection proverbs:
“My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;
like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;
throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”--
my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,
for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,
but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.
Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.” (Proverbs 1:10-19 ESV).
I just finished up the book of Proverbs in my daily Bible reading. This is a book you can read the rest of your life and spend a week focusing on each verse and still not glean all that is there.
But one I am focusing on today should sober everyone who reads it. It cuts through our folly and gives wisdom that will lead to life:
“If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?” (Proverbs 24:12 ESV).
I always say we need to give grace to each other and part of that is to give people the benefit of the doubt. This means if we can interpret the motives of someone either positively or negatively, we opt to assume the best.
We almost always have the option to ascribe negative or positive to someone's words or actions. But since we cannot read the hearts of men, we give grace.
But God can read the hearts of men. There is no benefit of the doubt given by God because God knows absolutely what is and what is not. That’s what this proverb reminds us.
We may be able to fool man; we may be able to take advantage of the one who is rich in extending grace; but God knows. He not only sees the actions we take, but He knows the heart behind the actions.
If we hurt someone while trying to do good to them, God knows. If we fool everyone else and hide a corrupt heart, God knows.
Everyone may condemn us, but God will uphold the right heart. Everyone may praise us, but God will perceive the evil we harbor in our heart.
Let us live and act each day knowing that it is not only our works that are seen, but also our hearts that will be weighed by God. He will always know the truth.
Most of us are familiar with the call of Moses on Sinai, in the presence of the burning bush. We read about God laying the mantle upon Moses as Moses gives excuse after excuse explaining why he cannot answer God’s call to him. In patience, God provides remedy for each excuse that Moses gives.
This happens until Moses runs out of excuses,
“But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:13 ESV).
And God became angry. He had enough and Moses knew it. When Moses had run out of excuses and said, “No” to God, there was nothing left to argue. And when God rejected his “No”, Moses relented.
Just as Jonah, we may tell God “No”, but that doesn’t mean God will accept our “No” when we give it to Him. His call is still upon us, waiting for us to bring our will into alignment with His will. When Jonah was vomited up by the great fish, the call of the Lord was the same to Jonah.
Saying “No” to God does not remove our call to serve Him. Whether we act in the spirit of Moses or Jonah, we can say “No” to Him as long as we desire, but His call to us remains fixed. Our responsibility is not removed by our rejection of His call, neither is His expectation for us to obey Him.
Both Moses and Jonah relented when they realized they could not outrun God’s call to them. And when they did, God was able to glorify Himself through them. Fighting God does not bring peace into our hearts. It brings the opposite.
Not until we submit to the call of God will we find true peace. We were created to serve and to bring glory to God. Only when we submit and stop making excuses will we find the peace that surpasses all understanding.
We read about Stephen, the first martyr, and how the people who stoned him laid their garments at the feet of Saul. But there is so much that happened at the sermon and stoning of Stephen that causes us to know beyond doubt that Jesus is the Messiah. One thing that occurred is the influence that Stephen had on Saul, not just at his death, but long after.
Saul seemed to be more than just an approver of the stoning of Stephen, but perhaps even one of the instigators. Notice:
“Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen.” (Acts 6:9 ESV).
Among those who rose up to dispute with Stephen are “those from Cilicia.” Where is Paul from?
“Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” (Acts 21:39 ESV).
This seems to be the place where Paul takes a stand against the Christians and rises up against the Man whom he believes blasphemed God by claiming to be God in the flesh. And once he started down this road with zeal, nothing would get in his way:
“But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” (Acts 8:3 ESV).
But Saul would learn the truth from the Messiah Himself. And since his faith was bound up in God, he repented when Jesus presented him with the truth. And what happens with the rest of his life mirrors much of what happened to Stephen, a man Paul himself in large part was responsible for killing. Consider just a few:
Of Stephen:
“But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” (Acts 6:10 ESV).
Of Paul:
“But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.” (Acts 9:22 ESV).
Both has a vision of the Lord:
Stephen:
“And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56 ESV).
Paul:
“And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' And I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 26:14-15 ESV).
Both were seized and had false witnesses make accusations against them:
Stephen:
“And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law,” (Acts 6:12-13 ESV).
Paul:
“When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” (Acts 21:27-28 ESV).
Ultimately, both would give their life for the Messiah:
Stephen:
“Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.” (Acts 7:58 ESV).
Paul:
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:6-7 ESV).
I think that the events in Acts 7 that made Saul a hero to many stayed with him the rest of his life. And many of the things that he consigned to Stephen were later the very things he himself had to endure for the name of Jesus.
God will use all of our experiences, good and bad, to glorify Himself if we let Him. What is it in our past that we can look back at and find a way to glorify God in? What lessons can we learn to draw us closer to God? Paul called himself a murderer, undoubtedly referring back, in part, to his participation in the stoning of Stephen. Do you suppose he was thinking of this first martyr that he helped kill as he himself lay in the street as people stoned him for his belief in the same Messiah?
And the sermon that Stephen preached was amazing- stuff for another post; but Saul heard it in full. Initially, he rejected it. But later, Paul would be making the same defense that Stephen made before his accusers.
When we mess up, we can give up, ignore our error or be humble and repent. If we choose to be humble and repent, let the Lord use our past experiences to glorify Himself and prepare us for how we can better serve others because of our experiences.