“For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory.” – Isaiah 66:18
As Isaiah concludes, God speaks of the glorious time we already see unfolding before our eyes – the gathering of the nations. After His resurrection, Jesus commanded His followers to go into all the nations, tribes, and tongues of the world to make disciples. This is the work God uses to accomplish this promise regarding the gathering of all nations and tongues. As the different ethnic groups of the world are introduced to Jesus and some in each group respond to the Gospel call, are baptized, and learn to obey Jesus, the nations are gathering to see God’s glory.
The mission of the church is to go and share the good news of Jesus Christ so that people from every nation and language will come to know God the Father through Jesus the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. Whether we are sending or going, giving or praying we are the people through whom God is accomplishing this promise! One day, we know for certain that citizens of every nation and language group will be gathered in God’s presence praising and worshiping Him, praising and worshiping Jesus, and basking in our Triune God’s glory.
God isn’t merely the God of a single nation or region of the world. He is the Living God of all the world and He will be worshipped and glorified by people from everywhere in the world. Everywhere! Even those areas that seem the most hardened against the good news of Jesus will one day be gathered in God’s presence through faith in Jesus. Rejoice in this future and embrace the work Jesus has given His church right now. Share good news in your neighborhood and be part of sharing good news in the far ends of the earth.
Learn about God’s mission work in the world. Pray for God’s mission work in the world. Support God’s mission work in the world financially. Encourage and support those doing God’s mission work in the world. Pray about become one of God’s mission workers out in the world. #FollowJesus