I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” Rev. 7:9-10
Lord Jesus, before my first trip to Switzerland, I consumed travel brochures, Swiss panorama DVDs, and even watched “Heidi” a few times. All to fill my imagination and fuel my joy before getting off the train in Interlaken, and boating to the village of Iseltwald, on the Lake of Brienz, September 1984. I’ve been back 9 times.
As precious as that travel-memory is, profound is the grace-journey we’re on, with our guaranteed destination described in glorious-part by John. Your Word is no mere travel brochure. It’s your Word—true and trustworthy. Where do we really want to be, no matter what our “Switzerland” might be?
Jesus, we want to stand, dance, and wave our own palm branch before you in the new heaven and new earth. We long for the Day we’ll add our voice to the great roar of those you love, came to save, and will treasure forever.
Who will be there? A crowd, too great to count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language. Equally loved, diverse forever, finally free to love each other with your passion, delight, and joy. Every color of skin, but all dressed in the same robe of your perfect righteousness.
Not just on this MLK Day, but every day—fill our imagination and fuel our joy for that eternal Day of all things new and beautiful. May we faithfully love and labor towards the Day of no more racism, tribalism, nationalism, and every “ism” that contradicts the Gospel. So Very Amen.