A few of our lunch breaks looked like an over ambitious game of charades as we attempted to communicate with each other, but we eventually figured out a system, and what unfolded was beautiful. Our work was merely adequate \u2013 we were just high schoolers \u2013 but what was remarkable was being a part of this hodgepodge group of mixed ages and cultures who all worked together toward one goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe Great Multitude<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nI had the privilege of hearing a sermon several weeks ago on \u201cUnity in the Church,\u201d and one of the verses read was particularly striking. These are verses I\u2019ve pored over many times before, but this time, there was a different light shed on the words. Revelation 7:9-10 says this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c<\/sup><\/strong>After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 <\/sup><\/strong>and crying out with a loud voice, \u201cSalvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nI\u2019ve read these verses while considering the glory of the second coming, but I\u2019ve not focused before on the amazing picture of unity amid diversity<\/em>. For a moment, I traveled back to our memorable trip in high school and thought about the beauty that surrounded that distinct but unified group.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe picture John reveals in Revelation is foretelling of what is to come \u2013 it\u2019s a vision of our future <\/em>when Christ returns, and the details in these verses hold important implications for believers both in the here and now and in the anticipation of what is to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\nDiversity in the New Heavens and New Earth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen John looks out, he sees a great multitude that no one can count. <\/em>The sea of faces all look different, the crowd includes an assortment of nations and peoples, and the words spoken are heard in dissimilar languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI can close my eyes and imagine the magnificence of this scene. Heaven will be grandly diverse. We won\u2019t lose our uniqueness as each one is distinctively formed in the image of our Creator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But because we live in a broken world, sin creeps in, and, at times, causes our pride to swell when confronted with these differences. Satan whispers the lies that we often buy into: my way is better; we are superior. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s joy that should well up over the diversity in the body of Christ. Our distinctions are stunning, and in this brief glimpse of what is to come, there is a vast array of people, only some of whom have a similar appearance, and many of whom have a different cultural context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Christ returns, we will be changed, yes, but diversity will remain. Theologian, Charles Spurgeon, says this of these verses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is individuality in heaven, depend upon it… but Abraham \u2013 you will know him; Isaac, you will know him; and Jacob, you will know him. There will be in heaven not a company of persons, all struck off alike so that you cannot tell who is who; but they will be out of every nation, and kindred, and people, and tongue.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nUnity in the New Heavens and New Earth.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s not to be missed that this diverse multitude is crying out to Jesus with one<\/strong> loud voice (v 10): \u201cSalvation belongs to our God!\u201d <\/em>Yes, there is diversity but there is also great unity of purpose and voice as together the multitude gives glory to the King of Kings. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAs a worship leader, I love to sing hymns with the body of believers. When the unified voices lift my soul, I sometimes imagine how awesome it will be when one day a tune is sung with the multitude, and not only in English, but in Swahili and French and Spanish. We will rejoice<\/em> to hear other tongues spilling out their praises to God as one body<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDiversity and Unity in the Here and Now<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBut what does this future diversity mean for us in the here and now? I heard a Bible teacher ask once, \u201cDo all your friends look just like you?\u201d <\/em>Her prodding question was an exhortation to embrace the diversity amongst the body of Christ now. <\/em>We have so much to learn from each other. Whether it\u2019s sitting down with someone of a different ethnicity, age, or cultural background, there is much to gain from delighting in our differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve read these verses while considering the glory of the second coming, but I\u2019ve not focused before on the amazing picture of unity amid diversity<\/em>. For a moment, I traveled back to our memorable trip in high school and thought about the beauty that surrounded that distinct but unified group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The picture John reveals in Revelation is foretelling of what is to come \u2013 it\u2019s a vision of our future <\/em>when Christ returns, and the details in these verses hold important implications for believers both in the here and now and in the anticipation of what is to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When John looks out, he sees a great multitude that no one can count. <\/em>The sea of faces all look different, the crowd includes an assortment of nations and peoples, and the words spoken are heard in dissimilar languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can close my eyes and imagine the magnificence of this scene. Heaven will be grandly diverse. We won\u2019t lose our uniqueness as each one is distinctively formed in the image of our Creator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But because we live in a broken world, sin creeps in, and, at times, causes our pride to swell when confronted with these differences. Satan whispers the lies that we often buy into: my way is better; we are superior. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s joy that should well up over the diversity in the body of Christ. Our distinctions are stunning, and in this brief glimpse of what is to come, there is a vast array of people, only some of whom have a similar appearance, and many of whom have a different cultural context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When Christ returns, we will be changed, yes, but diversity will remain. Theologian, Charles Spurgeon, says this of these verses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere is individuality in heaven, depend upon it… but Abraham \u2013 you will know him; Isaac, you will know him; and Jacob, you will know him. There will be in heaven not a company of persons, all struck off alike so that you cannot tell who is who; but they will be out of every nation, and kindred, and people, and tongue.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not to be missed that this diverse multitude is crying out to Jesus with one<\/strong> loud voice (v 10): \u201cSalvation belongs to our God!\u201d <\/em>Yes, there is diversity but there is also great unity of purpose and voice as together the multitude gives glory to the King of Kings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a worship leader, I love to sing hymns with the body of believers. When the unified voices lift my soul, I sometimes imagine how awesome it will be when one day a tune is sung with the multitude, and not only in English, but in Swahili and French and Spanish. We will rejoice<\/em> to hear other tongues spilling out their praises to God as one body<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what does this future diversity mean for us in the here and now? I heard a Bible teacher ask once, \u201cDo all your friends look just like you?\u201d <\/em>Her prodding question was an exhortation to embrace the diversity amongst the body of Christ now. <\/em>We have so much to learn from each other. Whether it\u2019s sitting down with someone of a different ethnicity, age, or cultural background, there is much to gain from delighting in our differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDiversity in the New Heavens and New Earth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Unity in the New Heavens and New Earth.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Diversity and Unity in the Here and Now<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n