Some are black and some are white,

Some are wrong and some are right,

Some get rich and some stay poor,

Some make peace and some make war.

Some are yellow, some are brown,

Some are up and some are down,

Some go far, some fall behind,

Some are mean and some are kind.

Some are reds and some are greens,

Some stay quiet, some make scenes,

Some say yes and some say no,

Some will tell you where to go.

But underneath our different skin,

The same heart beats, deep within.

For brothers, sisters all are we,

Meant to live in harmony.

In recent years we’ve all seen or read about the horrors that can result when animosity escalates between people of divergent racial, ideological, or religious backgrounds. Ethnic confrontations in the Darfur region of Sudan, political violence in Kenya and Sri Lanka, continued bloodletting in the Mideast, incessant carnage in Iraq and Afghanistan, and strained race relations in scores of other countries all attest to the fact that something is dreadfully wrong with the human condition. Most of these conflicts are civil or intrastate wars, and most victims are civilians. Today, 75 percent or more of those killed or wounded in wars are noncombatants.

Can’t someone put a stop to it all? Perhaps some international body could decree that all people of every country, color, and creed must respect, accept, and live in harmony with everyone else, regardless of their differences? Unfortunately, even if someone had the authority to issue such a decree, it would never work. Simply put, righteousness cannot be legislated. Kindness, understanding, and love must come from the heart, not as a dutiful response to a law.

To suddenly accept and respect others when you’ve been taught since childhood that your particular color, creed, or culture is better than theirs is no small task. It would be even more difficult to instantly accept those you resent because you know that their people have caused yours years or perhaps centuries of suffering, humiliation, abuse, or exploitation.

When people have lost loved ones, homes, or land, have been the target of violence, or have otherwise felt the brunt of another ethnic group’s scorn, no edict is going to change the victims’ attitudes overnight. Even if they wanted to reconcile with their oppressors, old habits die hard. No amount of willpower can instantly overcome deep-seated resentment or hatred.

So how can prejudice, fear, and distrust be overcome when these things have been ingrained for centuries? The answer is summed up in one word: love.

 “Hatred stirs upstrife, but love covers all sins.”1 If you hate somebody, your interactions with them are likely to breed disagreement and conflict. But if you truly love them, even if they have wronged you, it’s possible to look beyond their faults and accept and forgive them.

This may sound like a noble aspiration—to overlook and forgive all the flaws and failings of others—but realistically, who is capable of suddenly releasing resentment, hatred, fear, or other deep-seated negative attitudes they may harbor toward individuals or entire groups of people? Most of us lack the resolve and emotional wherewithal to do that.

The good news is that despite our limited human resources, it is still possible for us to truly love, understand, and accept others, regardless of their past or background. The key to such love comes from the ultimate source of love, God Himself. The Bible tells us that “God is love.”2 He is the all-powerful Spirit of love who created the universe and brought us all into being.

To show us what He is like, He sent His own Son to earth in the form of a man, Jesus Christ. Jesus’ entire ministry was one of love. He experienced human suffering and had great compassion on the people as He ministered to their spiritual and physical needs. He became one of us.

He taught that we could fulfill all the laws of God by keeping just one commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”3

On one occasion, an antagonist overheard Jesus teaching this and publicly challenged Him. “Who then is my neighbor?” Jesus responded with the story of the Good Samaritan, in which He clearly showed that our neighbor is anyone who needs our help, regardless of their race, creed, color, nationality, or cultural background.4

The way we can love our neighbors and do our part to bring peace to the world is to ask the Prince of Peace, Jesus, 5 to give us the love we need for others. When we are connected with the God of love, His Spirit within us can empower us to do what is humanly impossible: to truly love others the way we love ourselves.

The Bible says of Jesus, “He Himself is our peace, who has made both [races] one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.”6 The supernatural love of God is what brings genuine peace, unity, and mutual respect between us.

“Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”7 It’s not in our nature, but when we allow God’s Spirit to dwell in us, we take on His nature.8 Then and only then can we look past the color of people’s skin to see their hearts and spirits as He does.

Even when fear, prejudice, and hatred have been ingrained for years, the love of God can wash it all away. Once you personally know that God loves and forgives you, it becomes much easier to love and forgive others.You can then “get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, along with every form of malice, and be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”1

When you open your heart to Jesus, He can miraculously free you from the bondage of hatred and ill will toward others. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”2

What a wonderful world it would be if we were all colorblind and race-“unconscious,” where the only thing we saw when we looked at others of another ethnic background was love—the color of love. It is possible, “for you all are one in Christ Jesus.”3

Do you want such love for others? It’s yours for the asking. God loves you so much that He sent Jesus to give His life for you. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus], that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”4

Jesus will freely forgive you for all of your sins and give you eternal life, if you will simply say you are sorry and ask Him to. You can receive Jesus as your Savior right now by sincerely praying a prayer like the following:

Dear Jesus, I want to know You. Thank You for giving Your life for me. Please forgive me for all the things I have done wrong. I now open the door of my heart, and I ask You to come in and give me Your gift of eternal life. Fill me with Your love, and help me to be more tolerant of others, regardless of who they are. Amen.

—

The Bible tells us that the day is soon coming when Jesus will personally return “in great power and glory” to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. The exploitive and exclusive regimes of man will be no more when “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord.”5

Ethnic barriers will be swept away then, and the peace-loving people of the world will unite in true harmony. “All people, nations, and languages shall serve the Lord in an everlasting dominion. … And nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”6

1Proverbs10:12

21 John 4:8

3Galatians5:14

4Luke10:25–37

5Isaiah 9:6

6Ephesians2:14

71 Samuel16:7

82Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:23–24; Colossians 3:10

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1Ephesians4:31–32 NIV

22Corinthians 5:17

3Galatians3:28

4John 3:16

5Revelation11:15

6See Daniel7:14; Isaiah 2:4