Not everyone at RBC has had the enjoyment of playing foosball in the game room. Those that have know that the floor is not level, but slants toward the west wall. Unless shims are put under two of the legs of the foosball table, it is not a “level playing field” and clearly gives one team a disadvantage (and the other team an advantage).
Thankfully for all people, God has a “level playing field”, so to speak. Peter, in preaching to Cornelius’ household, exclaimed “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” He concluded his message this way: “And He [Jesus] commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:34b-35, 42-43)
Peter addresses two areas where God shows no partiality. The first is in judgment. We see this truth expounded in Isaiah 24:1-3. Here, God’s impending judgment on the earth is predicted: “Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, distorts its surface and scatters abroad its inhabitants. And it shall be: As with the people, so with the priest; As with the servant, so with his master; As with the maid, so with her mistress; As with the buyer, so with the seller; As with the lender, so with the borrower; As with the creditor, so with the debtor. The land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered, for the LORD has spoken this word”.
The second area Peter mentions is in remission of sins. Here are two other passages that emphasize this truth:
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28)
“and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” (Col. 3:10-11)
An added application of God’s impartiality is that He also wants us to be impartial. He clearly calls partiality SIN. (see James 2:1-13) Thankfully, our Supreme court recently lined up with God in their ruling concerning affirmative action. (Update June 29: The U.S. Supreme Court has found that Harvard and the University of North Carolina’s admissions policy violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.) Let’s keep praying for them.
I just came across a Gospel song that speaks of the ground being level at the foot of the cross. Praise God! Let’s spread this Good News!
“The Ground Is Level” by Ernie Haase
You may own earth’s silver, have riches untold,
But all of earth’s wealth, my friend, it won’t save your soul.
You may live in a mansion, all the world know your name,
But at the foot of the cross, my friend, everyone stands the same.Chorus
The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
Anyone may come there, for there is no cost.
Rich man or poor man, bond man or free,
The ground was leveled that day at CalvaryYou may be a bеggar, have nothing to wear,
Or eat at a table without a crumb to spare,
But at the foot of the cross, my friend, you may stand by a king,
For all of earth’s money won’t be worth anything.