“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, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” – Revelation 7:9-10
What a glorious picture of the family of God, gathered together in heaven before God and Jesus! Can you imagine it? Try, right now. Picture countless millions or billions of people from every nation, every race, every ethnic group, every language gathered together to praise and worship!
It’s a glorious image reminding us of one of the wondrous truths of the Christian faith: that we are united by Christ in us. In Christ, all the labels and categories the world would use to divide us become irrelevant. We are new creation in Christ, one family, one people, one Spirit in us. In Christ, what unites us is infinitely greater than what divides us! We are the body of Christ in all the beauty of our many God-given colors.
So how do we live like this here on earth? How do we bring this aspect of heaven into our lives today? Christians have often done a very poor job at this but we need to do it. How do we earnestly live like every single person of every single skin color is beautifully and wonderfully made in God’s image?
How do we live in a manner that isn’t blind to the many colors God has given us and that doesn’t disparage, diminish, or mistreat others or ourselves because of skin color. How do we genuinely celebrate God’s diverse creation while whole-heartedly embracing our brothers and sisters of every color, every language, every citizenship, and every heritage? What step will you take to live this wondrous aspect of God’s Kingdom here today and every day?