Can you imagine waking up for the first time and finding you are the only human being on the planet? It’s quite interesting to read the Bible and find out that we all descended from one man who experienced such an event. Perhaps the more we think about this, the more of a respectful mindset toward one another we’ll possess. The fact that we all look very different in our various colors, shapes, and sizes, as well as come from all kinds of places, doesn’t negate the reality that we all originated from one person.
At the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth in Genesis 2:7, we find that “the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” In verse 15, ” The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Then in verse 18, the Lord says, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Illustration by Caleb Salisbury
Afterward, the Lord caused the man to fall into a deep sleep and while he slept, took one of the man’s ribs and made a woman from that rib. The man, Adam, named the woman Eve, who became pregnant with her first two sons, Cain, and later Abel. At this point, we see the start of one huge family of mankind, originating from one man God created, who grew into all of us on earth today.
Illustration: Teach and Grow
We are told in Acts 17:26-27, that “from one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”
So why do so many of us still struggle with the various color distinctions of the human race God created on His earth? These differences are constantly highlighted and labeled in various ways. Yet, the Lord tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:16, that we should regard no one according to the flesh; and in 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord doesn’t see as man does; the man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
For those of us who are Christ’s followers, this reality of life speaks even louder following Jesus’ death and resurrection, “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:27-29) In light of this amazing truth, our thoughts on a person’s skin color or birthplace should not present a problem for one’s existence in any way. Clearly, the Bible shows us in many ways that one’s spiritual alignment, character, motives, and behavior are of the most importance.
Consequently, we’ve still got some work to do to embrace and live the truth that we are all one human race of people (whether we like it or not) and should see ourselves as such. If we are Christ’s disciples or ambassadors, we are one family, our aim being to love God and one another past our skin color or birthplace; and treat one another as we desire to be treated.
We’ll no doubt get a lot further along well on the earth, the closer we get to this goal. Not to mention reality extends into eternity as shown in Revelation 7:9, ““After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.”
Photo: Worship Resources International
Ms. Rita's Minute 