In 2010, nearly four thousand believers in Jesus gathered in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants from 198 countries were represented at the conference—a gathering considered to be the most representative meeting of the Christian church in the two thousand years since Jesus walked the earth.
There will come a day when a gathering needn’t be “representative” because all believers will be together. John, in a vision from God, describes it this way: “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 . . . and they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne’ ” (Revelation 7:9-10).
Our local churches may not always reflect the diversity that exists in God’s eternal kingdom. Sometimes that’s the result of factors outside our control—other times we may be drawn to worship with those we perceive to be similar to ourselves culturally, generationally, politically, and economically.
But we honor God when we embrace—and even seek out—the beautiful differences He has endowed to His children. They offer a foretaste of that diverse, heavenly gathering when all those who trust in Jesus’ sacrifice will worship Him together.
How can you better embrace those who are different from you? How might those differences grow your understanding of God?
Thank You, God, for the opportunity to worship You with those who are different from me—both now and in eternity.
The Lamb, who is their shepherd (Revelation 7:17), is the theme of the words the diverse crowd is crying out (v. 10). This Shepherd/Lamb will be the center of the throne and will guide His flock to springs of living water. These words echo David’s “Shepherd Song” (Psalm 23) and Jesus’ teaching in John 10 that He’s “the good Shepherd” (vv. 11, 14). As we ponder the wonderful diversity of human beings in heaven, we’re also reminded that the focal point there will be the Lamb and God. The Lamb will guide us, and the Father will dry the very tears from our eyes (Revelation 7:17). The reality of the presence of the Lamb is the true key to what makes heaven so wonderful and what causes the crowd to worship. As we embrace the diversity of God’s children on earth, it’s a reminder that one day we’ll all worship the Lamb together in heaven.
