The 2024 Summer Olympic Games are being held in Paris, France, this year. There are 329 events in 32 different sports. In all, 206 countries will participate in the Games, involving more than 10,000 athletes-with nearly 10 million tickets sold to spectators.
One thing is different this year. Barring terrorist threats, the Opening Ceremony won't take place in a stadium but on the Seine River, flowing through the heart of Paris. The river will host a colorful, 4-rnile flotilla of 160 boats gliding past the iconic sites of Paris at sunset.
Donned in their country's teamwear, athletes will board their boats in an order dictated by Olympic tradition. The Greek team enters first since the Games originated with them. The host nation—France—enters last. In between, each nation enters according to alphabetical order based on the host country's language. The flags of the nations will flutter in the wind, and the entire world will be watching.
I plan to be watching too, but over the years while watching the Olympic parade of nations, my mind has turned to heaven. When Jesus Christ left this world, He commissioned His Church to take the Gospel to every corner of the globe. On the Day of Pentecost, there were people "from every nation under heaven" who heard the Gospel, each in their own language (Acts 2:5-12). The writer, Luke, was using a literary device known as hyperbole to express the diversity of the crowd. He was also pointing toward the scope of the mission before the Church: to take the Gospel to a parade of nations on earth.
The message spread from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and onwards. In the two thousand years since then, we've seen Christianity nudge its way into hostile empires, remote tribes, rural acres, and teeming cities, changing lives everywhere it goes.
Today, ministries like Turning Point have technological tools unknown to prior generations. I've seen technology develop, and I'm amazed at our newest technologies in communication and transportation. My heart swells into a hallelujah as I see what the Church is doing today. We're privileged to be part of it. What a time to serve Christ!
As a result, one day we'll see a parade of nations enter the gates of New Jerusalem at the dawning of eternity. Revelation 7:9-10 says, "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!"' (NLT)
Using the descriptions given to us in the Bible, try to imagine it right now. A golden city, shimmering with light, its walls tall and stately and its foundations made of precious jewels. Through its open gates cheered on by angels will come blood-bought people from all the ages, from all the nations, waving their banners and shouting with praise and worship, so happy to be home, so happy to be in heaven!
National divisions will be forgotten. International hostility will be no more. An atmosphere of love will rise into the clear air, and we'll never stop enjoying one another's presence. We'll never tire of seeing our King.
We have a part in shaping that future reality. God has called us all to be His witnesses, to take His message to the world. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
God has called us all to be His witnesses, to take His message to the world.
I've taken that seriously all my adult life. My personal goal isn't just to go to heaven. It's to take as many people with me as possible, which I trust is true for you too.
Let's focus our hearts on the world and all Turning Point is doing—with your help!—to reach the globe. It's a good time to be globally focused!
This article was adapted from an issue of Turning Points devotional magazine.
