In Ecclesiastes, the 3rd chapter, the Bible tells us “there is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to up root, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build . . .” I do not believe we can build the kingdom of God in a way that is pleasing to Him until we realize that now is the time to tear down the walls that are dividing us. Then and only then can the kingdom of God reign upon the earth. Galatians 3: 26–28 says “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  God wants us all to understand that race, culture, ethnicity, skin color, rich, poor, educated, uneducated – these things should not divide us. Martin Luther King, Jr had a dream that one day his four little children would one day live in a nation where they would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Unfortunately, that dream has yet to be realized because some people feel that they are valued less than others based solely upon who they are.

In John 4^th chapter Jesus is leaving Jerusalem on his way to Galilee. On the way to Galilee, Jesus and his disciples take a route that leads them through Samaria. There was a deep hatred between the Jews and the Samaritans and the Jews avoided Samaritans at all costs, but Jesus showed us that the love of God extends to all people. In Samaria Jesus sat down by a well and when a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus asked her for a drink of water. Just speaking to this woman addressed a racial and a cultural problem. Jews would never drink from a vessel that had been used by a Samaritan but Jesus purposely came to that particular well to offer that woman living water which is eternal life. Jesus is teaching us a valuable lesson. The kingdom of God does not recognize social, racial or cultural differences. How could it? God created man in His own image and the cross justifies and redeems everyone who accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Eternal life is available to all and judging people based on their differences is not how God wants it to be.

The answer to all things that divide us is Jesus. Jesus wants us to find unity in Him. This means breaking with any prejudices that we might have. Believers must be like Jesus. The only Jesus some people might see is you, so don’t hold back, be involved and make a difference. Offer the living water to all in the same way that Jesus did. Colossians 3 says “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Now is the time to step outside our comfort zones and not be content with the way things presently are. Let’s reach out to all people of all nationalities and enjoy the diversity that God has created.