God’s Nations

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9 (NIV) It was my first time out of North America, and London’s Heathrow Airport dazzled my senses. I noticed the different planes as we taxied in. Colorful fl oral prints adorned planes from Indonesia; kangaroos decorated those from Australia. British Airways advertised far away destinations — a Dutch windmill, a Celtic plaid, and an African shield. Air Canada proudly displayed its red maple leaf. A sleek jet taxied nearby from the wealthy United Arab Emirates, followed by El Al, with its Star of David, proclaiming Israel as its land of origin. We live in an amazing world. Each continent has different plants and animals, and each land is unique. God didn’t have to make it that way; He could have just provided the basics, but He always goes way beyond the basics. (And, of course, He wouldn’t have had to make us and our planet in the first place!) I watched people in the terminal, some clothed in their native dress and many speaking languages I did not understand. I felt like a friend was showing me a valuable piece of art or giving me a tour of a beautiful garden. I saw God’s priceless tapestry. This was His handiwork. I wonder what heaven will be like. We will celebrate our differences instead of fighting over them. I am sure, however, that our heavenly joy will come from “standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” Jesus, God’s Lamb, not only created the different nations, He died for them. Dear Lord, thank You for blessing our planet with variety and abundance in everything, even its people. Open our eyes to appreciate what You’ve given us through Your awesome creation, and I pray that Your Kingdom will come and Your will be done among the nations. — Sue Carlisle   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org