THE PERFECTING OF A PEOPLE
The Purpose of the Book People of Color in the Bible is to present the Bible from the wholistic approach in which it was written and given to us. This will develop the whole person’s mind, body and soul.
WILL EL-O-HIM (GOD) HAVE A PERFECTED PEOPLE?
God wants us and made us to reflect his image and glory to the world. Adam was created perfect in order that God’s nature could be reflected to the world. Adam was created in God’s image.
Genesis 1:26, 27 And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.
Enoch walked so closely with God and reflected God’s image so much that God took him off planet earth before he saw death. He was translated.
Genesis 5:22 – 24 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred (300) years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were 365 years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Noah was perfect in his generation. God rewarded him and his children by allowing them to re-populate the earth.
Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
He also received the grace of God in order that he could become a Son of God. Without the grace of God, Noah could not have been justified nor could he have been made perfect.
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
God also declared that Job was perfect and that he feared God. There aren’t many people that God declared to be perfect, but Job was one.
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil
The land of Uz was in an area inhabited by two Black nations of people called Sabeans and Chaldeans. These people robbed Job of all his goods, but this did not make Job sin. So, it was the same with the Africans throughout American slavery. We did not forsake God, even though we had lost everything.
Job 1:15, 17 “And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee…” While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, “The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”
Herodotus the father of Greek and European history uses the phrase, black with heat to denote a Black African (see quote 4 in chapter 2). Also, notice how the Bible uses this term in the next verse. Job tells us that his skin was black. Now some may say that this was due to his sickness, but I do not know of any sickness that will turn a white man into a black man. So, we should understand that he was a Black African, he was perfect, and although he had lost everything, it did not deter him from following God.
Job 30:30 My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
Sometimes God allows hard times to come so that we can see if we are really following Him or the things of this world. God is calling us today to be perfect like His servants of old.
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect.
People might say “We cannot be perfect”. Others might also say “Do you know anyone who is perfect?” That question does not negate the command. God has commanded us to be perfect. He then will supply us the power and grace to become perfect in the Messiah. My question to you is “Will you allow God to perfect your character through the washing of the word?” This will cause you to have the character that will qualify you for the church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.
Ephesians 5:26, 27 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.