By Shane Kastler
Recently, a United States Senator Elizabeth Warren came under scrutiny for falsely claiming to be a Cherokee Indian. As a native Oklahoman, I am very familiar with Indian heritage and understand why someone might have pride about such a background. The Cherokees, along with many other tribes, were valiant and honorable people, who were not always treated so well by the Federal government. Today, many efforts have been made by Native peoples to teach their history to their own people and others. Many of my family members are Indian, but I myself am not. (By the way, every Indian I know prefers to be called an “Indian” or by their tribal name rather than a “Native American.”)
From an eternal perspective, it makes no difference what your race or nationality is. A dishonest Senator seems to have lied in order to further her career as a “minority.” But such dishonesty is ineffective and useless in the realm of Heaven.
Many Jews thought they should receive special treatment as well. After all, God had made a covenant with the nation of Israel, and based on that, many Jews thought Heaven was guaranteed for them. John the Baptist taught them otherwise, saying: “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.” (Matthew 3:7-9)
Jew or Gentile didn't matter. Coming to Christ in true repentant faith did... and still does. The only “special treatment” that is given out by God the Father is the eternally special treatment given to those who are “in Christ” His son. We must know, love, and follow Jesus in this life. Then we will spend eternity with Him in the next life.
Don't fall for lies and don't believe a liar. Trust in Jesus, who is the very essence of truth personified. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) Lying about who you are on the judgment day, won't work. And lying about your lineage won't matter. Jesus is all that will matter on that day. Trust in Him today. Know the truth and be set free.
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