Heritage Day
What an exciting day we get to celebrate here in South Africa! The Rainbow Nation. A unique and exciting blend of cultures and peoples from all walks of life. Naturally, with the way humans operate, there have sadly been some negatives in our past due to this blend and the lack of unity and revelation to how special diversity is. As you read this I hope you are inspired to see that whatever your background is and wherever you come from, you have a unique opportunity to make a difference and add to the world in a way no one else can.
Our differences and individual heritage are not actually something that we should see as limiting or shameful. Some spices or ingredients do not taste great on their own, but when they come together they make for a flavourful and tasty dish. It is the same with people if you’ll let God open your eyes to the wonder that is being different. We all have qualities we wish we had or things in our lives that we wish we didn’t have. God made you the way you are because He knows that you bring a flavour and greatness to the dish of life that no one else can.
If we were all the same, if we were all the same ingredient and all had the same exact flavour: life would be monotonous, boring and grey. Maybe we do not agree with everyones’ cultures, worldviews and ways of doing things but it is exactly this blend that brings a spice and excitement to life.
Of course it can be annoying that people do things in a different way or see things differently to the way you do, but discomfort is part of life and is how you grow. You could grow up with someone who lives in the same neighbourhood as you and even goes to the same school as you but they do things differently to you because of how they were raised and God will use them! He’ll use them and He’ll use you in different ways because your situation is unique and you are unique.
Another way you could see how our different heritages come together for good is the human body. And to illustrate this I am going to use The Word of God to teach us. Look at these verses in 1 Corinthians 12:15-19 (NLT),
“15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part!”
Here we see God make it so clear to us. We all have separate functions and play a crucial part in the body of Christ. Our uniqueness adds to the whole. No matter what you circumstance is, what you think your limitations are or your family history, never forget that God can and will use everything about you for His Glory and to make an impact on this world beyond your wildest dreams.
At the end of the day you are not merely a citizen of the country that you are in, but you are a Child of God (Romans 8:15-16), a Citizen of Heaven (Philippians 3:20) and a Co-heir with Christ who is seated in heavenly places (Romans 8:17). Simply seek Jesus and He will lead you into where your heritage adds to His story.
- Ps. Matt