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 ESV
Jesus died to make all things that are wrong in this world right. God commanded man to be fruitful and multiply and to fill the earth. Instead, in Genesis 11, the people gathered together and tried to build a tower that would reach God in heaven. To punish the insolence of the people, God confused the languages of the people so that they may be dispersed over the face over the earth (read below).
"So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth." Genesis 11:8-9 ESV
We have different ethnicities because of sin. If man was not bent towards rebelling against God we would not have ethnicities that divide us today. Yet, God in His goodness has turned what sin and the enemy meant as evil and turned it for good. He made a promise to Abraham that his descendents would be more numerous than the sand of the seashore and more than the stars in the sky. The New Testament teaches us that all who have placed their faith in Christ are children of Abraham. Therefore, today "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise" (Galatians 3:28-29).
There are no separations or partiality in the kingdom of heaven. In His kingdom there is no favoritism for men over women, the young over the elderly, Americans over Chinese, or typical over special needs. Yet, God is glorified because He has turned our ethnic differences and distinctions to glorify Him. Those distinctions are no longer our first concern but glorifying God by faith is. We sing the same song in our own languages and God is glorified. Salvation belongs to God. Salvation is found in Him. So go out to the nations. Make disciples of all nations by teaching all Jesus taught us. Make disciples baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Make disciples. And behold, the lamb who was slain will be with you until the end of this age, because He has promised to us that Revelation 7 will happen! So be faithful to know the Lamb and to make Him known!
This article was written by Armando Yzaguirre Jr., Family Pastor at Fellowship Church.