The kingdom of God

In the book of Revelation, John has this magnificent vision of heaven open before him. What John saw fails human words. People have fought and disagreed over the interpretation of the book of Revelation. One thing that is clear, John saw thousands upon thousands of people from every tribe and language and nation, all declaring the majesty of God. It is a very specific description that requires a visual picture of the people, their identifiable ethnicity, nation, and language. It is my favorite picture of the now and the coming kingdom of God.

I have the privilege to see that grand vision at my work place. In our table group the other day we had Ethiopians, Salvadorians, Hispanics, Burmese, Rwandans, and African Americans. We shared stories of our past and journeys to Austin.  It is the vision of John, people of every tribe, language, and nation all finding themselves on this journey of life connected by the infinite love of God. John's vision of the kingdom is not limited and it is a vision that retains the uniqueness and worth of every individual.

As I look around at lunch I hear people conversing in every language and see food that I have never seen, the sound of the voices all very different blend together in a delicate hum that is pleasing and enchanting. The smell of the different foods blended together leaves one imagining their taste. It is a sensory experience where all share a common destiny and yet remain distinct in the way God made them. It is a very similar vision John had when he looked into heaven. I am thankful such a far reaching vision was not lost to the written Word and was preserved for all time. This is the vision of the kingdom I hold forth and will not let any narrow interpretations whittle down such a magnificent vision to something less glorifying that ignores the complexity of every tribe, language and nation together in their distinction  and dignity all sharing life together - forever.

One language, one tribe, one nation, one denomination, or any other limiting view of the kingdom of heaven leaves us empty. It simply falls short of the glory of God. The whole earth is full of God's glory and John saw that glory in every tribe, language and nation. I am thankful for that vision and that I get a glimpse of that in the here and now kingdom of heaven.