But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:13

As I grow older and try to embrace the Spirit of God in my life, I find myself back to the elementary truths, among them that no matter what color, tribe or nation, that has absolutely nothing to do with my salvation, nor anyone’s, for that matter.  Pride of ancestry and role in life has no place in the heart of a believer.  To be sure cultural pride has bedeviled the followers of Jesus Christ through the years, each demanding ethnic or historical rights.   That is refuted emphatically by the Spirit of the Lord.

Listen.  You who once were far away.  Non-Jews!  Now, since Jesus died for all, so you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.  Do I really catch this?  Do I even begin to see life like that?  The new relationship is a unified family, members of the same household!

As I read this marvelous word, I am humbled beyond measure.  That I should be included simply takes my breath away.  I live in a nation of many cultures, dominated now and for years by Anglo whites.   And I am one of them!  I grew up with privilege that I did not deserve.  In Christ that is what happens, people from all cultures are made one in Christ Jesus.  All of us are brought near by the blood of Christ.

Dear reader, at this venerable age I am astounded even more with the provision to live an entirely new kind of existence on earth – redeemed by Jesus and welded to all believers by him!  Now and again I feel this and rejoice wit joy beyond measure.   I want my whole life to shout out the truth of this grace of God!