Daily Devotional for Tuesday March 27, 2012

In the Wake of the Death of Trayvon Martin None of the Media is Dealing with the Spiritual Issue

In the wake of the sad death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, none of the media coverage is dealing with the real issue, and that is a spiritual one. Let me first say that this was, is, and in the end, will be a matter for law enforcement and the courts to ultimately decide.

It was rather sad to see the normal cast of opportunists,extortionists, and race baiters like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, along with the mainstream media, using this tragedy to irresponsibly gin up racial tensions and advance a specific political agenda. For the record, neither Sharpton or Jackson ever apologized to the young men at Duke they falsely accused of raping a black woman. As actual FACTS are now emerging, it may not have been the racial incident the media reported it to be. Again, in the end it will be the judicial system that will determine the facts and what if any crime was committed.

The spritual issue that nobody is focused on is the fact that the better percentage of two full generations have never even been to church. We have turned from God and Biblical Truth to embrace the lies of this world. Marriage is no longer a respected institution. As I have shared often, the breakdown of the family, the glue that holds our society together, is largely responsible for so much of the social ills we currently face in this nation. This turning away from God and His Truth has had a profound affect on everyone no matter what color your skin is!

Racism is not something unique to the black/white issues we have here in the United States. Those who live in other countries or who have spent time in other nations around the world, know all too well that racism is not exclusive to the United States and is sadly alive and well in most places today. Dividing people, due to whatever differences there may be, has been around from the very beginning of time and is one of satan's most powerful weapons. Racism is a lie from satan. There is no white race, black race, yellow race, brown race...there is only one race..THE HUMAN RACE!!!

Now, more than ever the Church must rise above these divisive tactics. Unfortunately one of the most glaring examples of racism occurs each Sunday morning at 11 a.m. in churches all across our 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 His Son Jesus Christ.

I pray that as you read these words, you will ask God what role you can play in helping to tear down the walls of division. I am so thankful that Liveprayer brings together over 2.4 million people worldwide every day, bound only by the love of Jesus Christ. People of every color, from most every nation, from ages 12 to 96, from every walk of life, rich and poor, and FROM EVERY CHRISTIAN DENOMINATION AND CHURCH GROUP. They are all simply looking for the hope we all need in this life, the hope that can only come from knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

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 by race, speech, skin color, finances, location, or anything else we can think of has been one of Satan's most effective tools of destruction. In our weakness, we fall into this 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, whites, 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 the line for 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 Asian men in His own image....MAN. We are ALL created equal. GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSON! 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 or not they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Their skin color is not important, but the condition of their heart is!!!

I love you and care about you so much. Please be praying for the family of Trayvon Martin during this time of their loss. Pray for the man who killed Martin, since he too needs God's strength in his life. Finally, pray for those in law enforcement who will investigate this tragedy that the truth will be told.

God sent His Son to die for the sins of this world, so that WHOEVER believes in Him 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 way. Don't dwell on how they may be different, but see how God may use you to open their heart to knowing Christ as their Savior.

Racism is a tool that satan used to divide people. 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 reach people regardless of the differences there may be, because in the end all men will live for eternity. How they respond to this man called Jesus will determine where that eternity is spent.

In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller