Day 363/365- Revelation 7:9

"Every nation"

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9 NLT)

The scene in heaven for all of eternity will be one of great color. Every tribe, nation, people, & language will stand before the throne & before the lamb. No one race or people will dominate the landscape. It will be a myriad of cultures, peoples, nationalities, & ethic groups. Has such diversity gathered ever been seen? Even heard of?

And yet this is what the gospel does. It reconciles even races. Even races that wouldn't gather together before will gather before the throne & before the lamb. God is the reconciler of all things & all peoples.

Growing up in the south, race is often a four letter word. Living in Memphis, TN for 15 years makes you literally feel the tension. There is a heaviness in the air & a cloud that seems to hang over the city. It's the same city where Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot & may just be the symbol for white/black racial tension in the south & the United States.

Many countries & cultures share similar histories & similar racial tension & hatred.

I sincerely believe that many white evangelical church goers would be surprised at who all will be before the throne. I say "would be" because it's hard to say with great confidence if a racist Christian is even possibility. We all have biases & injustices in us that only grace can remedy & that does take time. But we do need to awaken our hearts to the beauty of the myriads of people that will stand before the lamb on that day. All sorts will be there & the majority will not be Caucasian.

And not only has God called us in the gospel to racial reconciliation but to be a part in ensuring these peoples are before the throne on that day. We are invited into his mission. We are commanded to go to all peoples to share the good news that Jesus reconciles all things.

If we have been reconciled to God through Christ then we now are also ministers of reconciliation in his name.