Readings for today: Micah 1-4, Psalms 130
I can’t wait for the day when Jesus Christ comes again. The heavens will role back like a scroll. Christ will appear in His resurrection body with all the saints who have gone before us. New Jerusalem will descend out of heaven and be established on earth. The reign and rule of Christ will be absolute and eternal. The influence of the devil and his demons destroyed once and for all. Sin will be erased. Pain and suffering will cease. Every tear will be wiped away. All fears and anxieties will fade. Nothing will be left to disturb the Pax Christi or perfect peace of Christ.
On that day, we will see people from every tribe, tongue, and nation on earth and throughout history gathered around the throne. I can see them even now in my mind’s eye. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting men and women from the Tigray, Amhara, Oromo, Somali, and Borana tribes in Ethiopia. I have met men and women from the Acholi and Baganda tribes in Uganda. I have met men and women from the Dinka and Nuer tribes in South Sudan. I have met men and women from China and Japan and Korea. I have met men and women from Mexico and Guatemala and Venezuela. I have met men and women from England, Scotland, Germany, and France. I have met Greeks and Italians and Turks and Israelis and Palestinians. I have had the privilege of meeting so many different people from so many different cultures and I cannot wait to see them all streaming towards the mountain of God to worship together. I cannot wait to see them unified under the Lordship of Jesus Christ across all the divisions that exist. I cannot wait for the day when the conflicts and wars between all these different groups cease. When the violence and hatred and anger is washed away. When every wrong is made right. Every wound is healed. Every sin is forgiven. Perhaps that’s why I love the vision from the prophet Micah today…
“In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. Peoples will stream to it, and many nations will come and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about his ways so we may walk in his paths.” For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will settle disputes among many peoples and provide arbitration for strong nations that are far away. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war. But each person will sit under his grapevine and under his fig tree with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the Lord of Armies has spoken. Though all the peoples walk in the name of their own gods, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. On that day — this is the Lord’s declaration — I will assemble the lame and gather the scattered, those I have injured. I will make the lame into a remnant, those far removed into a strong nation. Then the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time on and forever. And you, watchtower for the flock, fortified hill of Daughter Zion, the former rule will come to you; sovereignty will come to Daughter Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:1-8 CSB)
As I said, I can’t wait for that day. I pray for that day. Lord Jesus, come quickly. Lord Jesus, come soon. And until that day comes, Lord Jesus, make me an instrument of your peace. Make me an instrument of your love. Make me an instrument of your grace so this world might get a foretaste of the world to come.
Readings for tomorrow: Micah 5-7, Psalms 131