Have You Ever Wondered Why People Are Different?  

Have you ever wondered why people are all so different?  Like why some people are bald and others have great hair?  Why are some people extremely tall and others short?  Why are there so many different colors of eyes, skin and hair?  We are all unique!  Some people are artistic and others (like me) can’t even draw a stick figure.  Some of us can sing, or dance, act, speak and inspire with our words.   Others can build or create to inspire.  There is so much variety in the human race!

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  So, what does that tell us about what God looks like?  Have you ever wondered that?  When I stand before the throne of God what will I see?  While God has been described many ways in scripture, no one truly knows what He looks like.  Bright, shinning, pure and white have all described God in the past.  But none of us look like that.  So, what does it really mean when scripture says that we were created in the image of God? 

If God created man in His image, we should be able to see glimpses of God in the people around us.  So, look around you today.  What do you see?  Do you see people just like yourself?  Or are you surrounded by many kinds of people?  If everyone is just like you then you are probably comfortable in your surroundings.  We like things we understand and know.  The more like us others are the easier they are to understand. 

But what about the people that look or sound nothing like you?  How do THEY make you feel? Do they make you uncomfortable?  I have heard comments from people who get angry when they hear another language spoken in public.  They fear that strangers are talking about them or have a hidden agenda.  Some have even gone so far to mock the dress or skin color of people they have never met.  But is that what we are called to do as Christians? 

Now, I realize that there are some very evil people in the world.  Satan is real and he has some scary folks on his team. There are evil things happening every day and just because we are Christians does not mean that we are immune to the violence.  But the news I watch shows evil in all forms of humanity.  There is no race, gender, or age that is pure when it comes to violence.  Did you know that there are parts of the world that WE would be hated and targeted just because we are Christians?  Sometimes living here in the U.S., we forget that powerful point. 

If we lived in a place where very few people were Christians, we would be the different ones.  We would be the ones doing and saying strange things.  We would be considered by some to be the enemy.  Matthew 5:43  You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  

This is hard. Sometimes we fall into the trap of seeing others as our enemy simply because someone who looked like them hurt us, or those we love.  We want to group large numbers of people together and have strong emotions about them just because they remind us of someone who was evil.  Maybe this would be easier if we all looked the same.  If we all spoke the same language, had the same skin color, hair type and eye color, would we have peace?  Or would we simply be prejudiced over other differences like personality or intelligence? 

But God created us all.  He created those differences.  We are ALL created in the image of God!  So, when we shun others, we are shunning parts of God.  Like a parent who loves and cares for her child, God loves and cares for all of His children, too.  Even the ones who have not named His son as their Savior.  John 3:16-17.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

It can be hard to love those that are different.  It may not come natural to many of us, but it is required.  Even if those people do not love us, we are to love them.  This is one reason Christianity is so powerful: love.  Luke 6:32 But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 

I believe it helps to see God in every human being. He is there, you know.  If we look at others through the eyes of love, the differences will soon fade away.  We are all God’s creation and loved by Him.  Christ died for us all, not just one race, gender or body type.  We need to look upon others as God does.  1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  God looks at the heart, not the physical appearance.   

We must also remember that even God’s son Jesus was not outwardly beautiful.  Isaiah 53:2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.  It’s not about what we look like on the outside, but rather what we are like on the inside.  It really is that simple! 

Have you ever wondered why people are so different?  Maybe it is so we will learn to look upon the INSIDE of people like God does; look for God in the differences, not the similarities of each of us. Look for ways we can use those differences to worship God and bring others to Him! After all, He is God, creator of the world and we must trust that His ways are always best! 

Why do you think God created so many kinds of human beings?    

Written by Brenda Poarch

Let’s Get Real!

www.letsgetreal.info