PRIMARY LOYALTY

    The Bible teaches that in heaven there will be
redeemed people from every language and ethnic group, from
every racial group, from all the families and nations of
mankind, all around the throne of God worshipping Him.

    Whenever a person receives Jesus Christ by faith as
Savior and Lord, that person’s previous ethnic or racial or
cultural status is superseded by the “new creation”, their
new identity as part of God’s “holy nation.”

    The apostle Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own
special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…”
(I Peter 2:9 NKJ)

    Becoming a Christian will not change the texture of
your hair or your skin color, but with Jesus Christ as your
King, all other loyalties or identifying factors become
much less important.  Our common identity with Christians
of other races or nations is an eternally stronger bond
than we have with even our own parents or siblings, unless
these physical relatives have also trusted in Christ.

    If you claim the name of “Christian”, Jesus your Lord
demands that you acknowledge your obedience to Him as the
controlling factor in your life.  He also demands that you
acknowledge Christians of any race or nation as your
brothers and sisters, to whom you owe an eternal loyalty.
Read Matthew 11 and 25, and John 17.

    Some people who claim to be Christians actually hate
people of other races, even Christians of other races.
John wrote, “If someone says, `I love God,’ and hates his
brother, HE IS A LIAR; for the one who does not love his
brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not
seen.”  (I John 4:20)  Read the whole letter of I John, and
note the “symptoms” of someone who has eternal life.

    If you realize that you are not yet a real Christian,
put aside any hatred you bear, and repent from all your
other sins, too, and join the Forever Family today:  Put
your trust in Jesus.
                                  [Clyde Price,  Arrows30]
              [Re: Arrows30–author’s note to all future
editors: DO NOT edit out the paragraph containing I John
4:20.  If you refuse to print this, you do NOT have
permission to print this article, and you probably should
not use this collection.  If the shoe fits, don’t wear it;
REPENT.  If you are afraid to take a stand, confess your
sin of the fear of man, lay down your life for the gospel,
and BE BOLD, BE STRONG, FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IS WITH YOU.