All Nations
From the very beginning of redemptive history, God’s heart was for the nations. When Adam and Eve brought the curse of sin into the world, God gave the first glimpse of a promised Savior for all peoples (Gen 3:15). When God called Abram (later Abraham) out of Ur to make a great nation out of his descendants, he said all nations would be blessed through those descendants (Gen 12:3). Throughout the Old Testament, God’s prophets reminded his people that his purpose in calling them was ultimately to reach all peoples with his glory (1 Chr 16:8-34, Isa 42:6, Eze 38:23, Mal 1:11, Mic 4:2, to name a few).
In the Psalms, David expresses trust in God by looking forward to the time when all families of the nations will turn to God and worship him (Psa 22:27-28). (In fact, so many Psalms point to God’s heart for the nations, I couldn’t possibly list them all here, but for starters, consider Psa 45:17, 46:10, 67:1-4, 72:17, 86:9, 96:3, and 98:2.) In the Great Commission, Jesus tells his followers to make disciples of all nations (Mat 28:18-20, Acts 1:8), and we see the result of that work in the book of Revelation as heaven is packed with people from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Rev 5:9, 7:9, 14:6, 15:3-4, among others).
What do these passages teach us? God was always aiming at the nations. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom made up of people from all places and times, and it’s always been growing. He started small, with just a single man (Abram), but that grew to the nation of Israel, and out of that nation came Jesus. Jesus was sent, not just to save Israel, but all nations (Luke 24:47, Acts 15:14-17, Rom 15:9-12, Gal 3:8). Through his saving work on the cross, Jesus redeemed a people from every nation on the earth (Gal 3:13-14), which we now call “the Church” and includes billions of people across the globe. You can see the widening circle. It’s hard for us to imagine because our perspectives are so limited by time and space. Think about it: you can literally only see what’s in front of you at this moment in time. Everything else is invisible to you. But not to God.
He is working in ways we can’t imagine, in places we’ll never see, in the hearts of people we’ll never meet. But he’s working. And let’s not miss the ways he’s working right here, in our community. The same God who is empowering missionaries to blaze a trail through the rainforest to reach an unreached people group is not unable to empower you to knock on your neighbor’s door. He has always been about growing his kingdom on the earth, and he has already given you everything you need to reach his people here and abroad. The question we need to ask ourselves is: How am I investing in God’s kingdom? Are you sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading? What is he calling you to do? Take a moment to prayerfully pause before God, humbly submit yourself to his lordship, and just listen. Ask, “What would you have me do?” And be prepared to say with the prophet Isaiah, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isa 6:8)
God will reach all nations, no matter what. It’s what he’s always been aiming for, and he never misses. So that part’s not optional. The optional part, for us, is whether or not we will joyfully step up and offer ourselves as living sacrifices for him to use to reach those nations. Ask him to use you to reach whoever he wants, wherever he wants, and however he wants, and then take a step.
Lord, toss me like a pebble into any pond you choose, and let those ripples bring many sons to glory.