After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Rev. 7:9-10
Heavenly Father, watching the parade of nations stream into the Olympic stadium last night, brought me to salty tears and profound hope. The tears were an admixture of sad ones and joyful ones.
I felt sad, because of the contrast between the felicity of the poly-national pageantry, and the reality of the broken, divided, at-war-world we inhabit. For several hours last night, citizens from over 200 nations were in one place, at peace, with respect for one another. Everybody was welcome and everybody mattered. There weren’t big nations and little nations; in fact, the no-nation athletes were cheered just as loudly as everybody else.
That sight led me to a swelling joy—a joy I feel even more strongly this morning. Father, thank you for reminding me of the end of your Story last night—of the future you have secured for us through the finished work of Jesus. A Day is coming when, not just 205, but “a multitude than no one can count,”—women and men from every nation, tribe, people, and language will stream into the New Jerusalem.
We won’t gather to complete, but to worship; we won’t carry national flags but palm branches—crying out as one redeemed people, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” We’ll live in perfect peace and joyful society, everlasting joy and unbroken unity forever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Father, hasten that Day; hasten it! This vision isn’t a groundless hype, but our glorious hope; not wishful thinking, but good eschatology; not an admonition to, “hang in there,” but our charge to worship you now, as we will worship then; and to preach the gospel to the nations and to love our next door neighbors. So very Amen, we pray, in Jesus’ triumphant and glorious name.