The Secret Knowledge of Black History Month 

Race is a distraction from what matters most.

The Secret Knowledge of Black History Month 

Black history is secret knowledge about the missing chapter of the building of America. This is the chapter that includes the details of slavery that lots of people would like to forget. The entire country was built from the forced free labor of millions of Black lives who did not benefit from the fruits of their labor, and their children’s children have not received reparations. I did not learn this in school and it was not in my school books. 

So, it became a favorite subject of mine. In my early teens I read as many books as I could find about the horrors and anomalies of slavery in the United States. After so much information about the suffering and injustices, I found myself bitter.  The results of slavery that are still impactful even to my life centuries later.  Black people are a group that share the same trauma, have the same types of distortions of the mind, and lifestyle afflictions.  However, it is also true that you can’t live this life without becoming traumatized by something in this fallen world. 

Comparing People to Other People is Wrong

If you are like I was and angry about the injustices, and bitter about the present results of the evil that happened, you have the wrong idea.  You are comparing the lives of black people to the lives of those that benefitted from centuries of slave labor. Tell me if you disagree, but I believe it is wrong to compare people to other people in all cases. The truth is that each person’s position in life is determined by the Most High God in every case. This shift in perspective gave me peace.

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. ²⁷ 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.

Acts 17:26-27

How you treat other people is directly related to the flow of blessings in your life. 

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³ Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴ And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 

2nd Corinthians 9:12-15

So, even though the Lord made a multitude of different types of people in different life situations, He made them all and He loves us all equally. He made us each gifted in at least one area and NONE is better than the other.  All of our lives have been pre-planned.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Ephesians 2:10 

The Issue of Race is a Distraction 

Each of us is uniquely made, wonderfully planned and designed in advance to include at least one talent.  The issue of race is a distraction from the real issue.  We each have to make a decision that is far more critical no matter which races we fall into or which version of history is being told.  My pastor points out that scripture shows it isn’t race that divides us, it is actually language that divides us (Genesis 11:1-9).  Race is a trick by our enemy to keep us bickering about what does not matter and have us spend all our time missing the point. The only distinction that matters is believer vs non-believer. 

The Real Issue is an Eternal Decision

The life we have here on earth is a mist.  A puddle of water on the dirt.  It is a chance to make a decision that will affect your eternity.  Because you have a body, but you are a soul (C.S. Lewis).  And your soul will live on after your body dies. You get to decide if you want your soul to spend eternity away from God or with God. Hell or Heaven?

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” ²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” ²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Mark 10:17-22 

Do you believe in Jesus and that He died to save all of us from this fallen world? Or not? You have this short life to use as an opportunity to give your life to Jesus.  Your life here on earth could be totally changed (for the better).  Most of all, it is your decision about where would you rather spend eternity.

The Lord May be Slow, But He is Sure. Jesus is Coming for His Church. Are You in His Church?

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him.

2nd Peter 3:8-13