06/17/20 RACE RELATIONS — Not too long ago we had just hired a new math professor at the Baptist college in GA where I worked. She was a young black woman with 2 sons, about 6 and 10 years old. I especially enjoyed kidding around and playing with her sons. A few weeks passed; she was hospitalized for several weeks. Linda and I took her sons with us to visit her.

While Linda and the older son talked with their mother, I sat with the younger one on my lap. Suddenly he jumped off my knee, shouting, “I almost forgot—you are white and I’m black. I can’t play with you anymore—we can’t be friends!” It took a few moments for me to gather my wits. I asked him to bring me a pitcher and an ice bucket from the across the room. I held out the pitcher and my arm and asked him, “What color is this pitcher?” He said, “White.” I asked, “So, what color is my arm and rest of my skin?” He said, “Tan… uh, light brown.” Then I asked him, “What color is the bucket?” “Black,” he answered. “What color is your skin?” I asked. He smiled broadly and said something like this, “Dark brown. Hey, since we’re both brown, just different shades, we CAN be friends!” For us the issue was resolved!

Revelation 5:9 (CSB) says, “And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from EVERY TRIBE AND LANGUAGE AND PEOPLE AND NATION.” God’s love and His plan to save people of every ethnic group is ALL inclusive! Some way, somehow it’s way past time for all of us, especially followers of Christ, to get the message!