These words from Kim Walkers "I Have Found" played throughout our apartment and my mind began to rush. We are longing for the glory of the Lord. My mind rushed to Revelation 21:24-26. They're unveiling and talking about the new heaven and earth, then the new Jerusalem. The glory of God gives light to this new place that needs no sun or light. "By it's light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and it's gates will never be shut by day - and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations."
It's a parade of the nations coming in. Like the Olympics where each country proudly came in shouting their glory as it comes through. They're all celebrating that they are there and they are there for one reason - to bring glory. They are bringing the glory and honor of their nation into the the king.
(watch on mute)
As I watched this parade, I began to cry as I saw so many tribes, nations, and tongues all come in bringing their glory into this place. I imagined what Heaven will be like so there is so much more celebration, bigger lights, bigger show, louder music, more authenticity and more diversity yet more unity.
Then I began to consider the smaller countries, or the bigger countries with small delegations. I began to think about DPRK (North Korea). In the Olympic parade, they had about 12 people. Some countries had 3 or 4 people. My heart broke. How excited would you get to be to proudly proclaim that you are bringing the glory of your country in before Jesus?! To get to represent your country, the one He came into to radically rescue your people from. You get to bring testimonies of your kingdom into His kingdom that all may rejoice even more that He is that strong that He is that big, that He has not overlooked any, but has went into the smallest countries and the biggest countries, He has spoken every language, He has fulfilled every cultural idea to it's maximum extent, He has done it.
YOU ARE THE EVIDENCE AND PROOF OF HIS GOODNESS TO EVERY NATION!
But here's how my heart breaks is for DPRK and for the 3/4 people countries. You are proof of His goodness and you look around to the hundreds and thousands of people from other countries. There are thousands from other countries and your country has 12, your people only have 4 people who will surrender and give back. I represent my country, but so few from my country understand how good God is and get to celebrate Him. So few in my country are bringing in glory to Him.
I don't think I would have really understood this without living in China and Asia the last two years. American's are nationalistic. We chant "U-S-A." We "buy American." We pledge our allegience to our country. We don't let people trash talk our country (unless it's us or people we know.) But yet, we've never been left out of...basically anything. We don't understand the underdog spirit as a country. If we're not included in something we bristle with pride and we'll start our own. We have massive resources, abilities, and connections. We never have to worry about going without. We can go to any country in the world and someone will speak our language, and almost every person we meet knows our country. We're big, we're bad, we've got guns, we....whatever else you want to say. We've never really felt inferior as a country or people. We have pride in our country and confidence in it's ability to be number 1. We never are even considered being left out or having to make a way for ourselves. We just assume and know that we or someone from our country is getting in to ... whatever prestigious event or activity there is.
Not everyone in the world has this privilege. They get so excited when someone can speak their native language. When someone knows where there country is or that they've heard of it. They are so honored and thrilled with someone notes the specialty of their country. I say this because I'm afraid of our self-sustaining abilities prevents us from seeing the rest of the world. As I watch this video I see most Americans making memories for themselves on their phones. Hardly anyone in the little countries have phones out rather they are bringing the glory of their country with smiles, faces, waves, and some dances in the parade. One thing that stuck out was how some teammates were taking pictures of each other. The whole world is watching them represent America and we turn and look at ourselves.
This is my concern as Americans is that we have all the resources and abilities to go help these countries around us be built up and bring in more of their glory into the presence of the King, yet we're satisfied that we have one of if not the biggest group coming in and while the whole world is looking to us, we're looking at ourselves. We're the starving man who found food and has gotten fat in the kitchen forgetting our brothers outside who are still starving.
I don't mean for this to bash America, for I am thankful for her, but I do hope that we would pray, send, and go to these countries that they would be able to bring the glory of their nation into the King fuller. I desire that the King would fully have His bride. He would receive the full glory of every nation. That American's wouldn't boast at how many people we have, we wouldn't look inwardly at how proud and good looking we are, but we would empower other nations to bring their own glory instead. We are blessed so that we can bless. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy and let them bring in their glory and honor before the King.
No comments:
Post a Comment