Daily Devotional for Monday January 21, 2002

In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

(GENESIS 1:27)????

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, I want to share this Devotional I did last year.? Racism is not something unique to the black/white issues we have here in the U.S.? Racism, dividing people due to whatever differences there may be, has been around from early biblical times, and is one of satan's most powerful tools.? Now, more than ever, the Church of Jesus Christ must rise above these divisive tactics.? Unfortunately, one of the most glaring examples of racism in our nation occurs each Sunday morning at 11 am in churches all over the nation.? I applaud the many fine churches that have worked hard to tear down these barriers and are a snapshot of Heaven, with people who are black, white, brown, red, and yellow all coming together to praise, worship, and glorify their God and Creator.? I pray that as you read these words, during this time we honor the incredible achievements of African-Americans in this country, you will ask God what role you can play in helping tear down the walls of division.

Made in God's image.? I guess I was very lucky growing up.? My parents and church taught me at a young age that all men, that is ALL men are created equal and in the image of God.? Going to high school in the early '70s, I was part of the new forced busing initiatives at that time in our history and ended up attending a school that was 90% African-American.? I played sports, had a great time in high school and never even thought much about the skin color of the people who were part of my daily life.? I went to college at Ohio State University, which has a tremendous population of foreign students, and made it possible to interact with many of different cultures and backgrounds.? I worked in high school and college in a Chinese restaurant, and my best friend was Chinese.? After college, I married a woman from Korea, have totally enjoyed that culture, and have visited Korea on many occasions. Currently, 60% of the Board of Directors of my ministry are African-American and during my time on the road holding evangelistic services, I preached in many Korean, Spanish, Romanian, and African-American churches all over the country.

I have been blessed to have been exposed to so many people of different races and cultural backgrounds in my life.? That is why I have always been so disgusted when I see the racial divides in this country.? You don't have to be much of a historian to realize that the racial tensions in this country are no different, actually pretty tame, compared to the racial tensions in other countries in the world today and throughout time. The Bible is full of stories of racial tensions.? Unfortunately, one of the enemy's strongest weapons is that of division.? The ability to divide people on whatever grounds, race, speech, skin color, hair color, finances, and location, has been one of Satan's most effective tools of destruction.? In our weakness, we fall into that trap so often.? Let me tell you right now, there is only one distinction that is going to matter for eternity.? That is whether or not you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.? There are not going to be lines for Japanese, Caucasians, wealthy, those with blue eyes, or for Baptists, Pentecostals, or Catholics.? My friend, there are only going to be two lines when this life is over.? The line for those who know Jesus Christ and those who have rejected Jesus Christ!!!

My bible says that God made man in His own image.? Not white men in His own image, or black men in His own image, or Russian men in His own image...MAN.? We are ALL created equal.? I want to challenge you today to quit looking at why the person next to you may be different, and start looking at the person next to you as to whether they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Their skin color should not be important, but the condition of their heart.? God sent His son to die for the sins of this world, so that WHOEVER believes may not perish but have everlasting life.? Quit worrying about the nationality of your neighbor and worry about his eternal destination.? Let me encourage you today to start looking at the people God places in your life in a different light.? Don't dwell on how they may be different, but see how God may use you to open their heart to knowing Christ.

I love you and am praying for you.? My prayer today is that you will open your heart and look at your fellow man as God does...as a human soul made in God's image, that has the same problem we all are born with, sin.? Let God use you to touch people, regardless the differences, because in the end, all men have the same date with eternity.? How they respond to this man called Jesus will determine where that eternity will be spent.