We are not all the same. As obvious as that may be, we sometimes fail to recognize that reality. I am reminded of that every time I travel. Whether it is international or just in different parts of this country, you find differences in food, customs, speech, behavior and values. Of course, you don’t have to travel to come to this realization. There will be differences right where you live as well. We are not all the same.

That is not a bad thing. There has been an International “Celebrate Diversity Month” since 2004. It is good to recognize differences that exist between people, including those with whom we disagree. And there are going to be differences even among people with whom you agree. Scripture speaks of this.

Ephesians 4:11-16  11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Let me point out two things from these passages.

• Unity In Christ – Scripture speaks of us being many parts of one body.  We are joined together with a common life, the life that Jesus has given through His death and resurrection. And so there is no doubt as to where the life comes from, we are called the Body of CHRIST, and He is the HEAD. We, then, along with believers across time and across the planet, are all the varied parts of the body. The Body needs all the different parts to be whole. True, a body can survive without a kidney or an eye or a limb, but it will not be everything it was meant to be. It is necessary and important for all the parts to be there.
• Each part does its work – In addition to being there, the parts of the body need to do their job! That is just as true for the Body of Christ, believers. A malfunctioning parts disrupts and harms the rest of the body. God made us all different because we have different functions. Some are better suited for some tasks than others. But we all have our jobs.  We are different parts of the body of Christ, the one who has paid for our sins with His life and rose again to give us eternal life. We all have a job to do for Him as a part of His body.

I know that the world’s view of Celebrating Diversity tries to tell us that all views and belief systems are equally valid. That is not what I am advocating. As a follower of Jesus, I believe what He said:

John 14:6  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

But I have also been led by Scripture to understand that in spite of our differences, we are all the same in some ways:

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

And because of that Christ died for all (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). Or as John put it:

1 John 2:2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

You need to be able to look at every other person in the world and understand that he or she is someone for whom Jesus died. And John confirmed that in sharing the vision that was given to him by God.

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Every nation, tribe, people and language. I celebrate that diversity already. And I look forward to seeing it with my own eyes when Jesus takes me to be with Him in the place He already prepared.