The Stream of Nations
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 2:1-5
In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
Through his Word, the Bible, God gives us hope and an eternal perspective, and its images of salvation stir the heart. If we didn’t know its promises, the hatred between nations would seem unsolvable, and any efforts at peace would seem futile.
But God promises that he will “settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” For “in the last days” all nations will stream in to recognize and honor the Lord.
There was actually a foretaste of this in Old Testament times, when the Queen of Sheba came to visit Israel’s King Solomon in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 9:1-9). Her realm was in southwestern Arabia about 900 years before Jesus came. Historians say that before the time of Christ, Judaism had spread south to Arabia and over to Ethiopia in Africa.
Since the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the nations have begun streaming into God’s kingdom. Jesus’ followers have gone out to spread the good news “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). And when the Lord comes again to live with us in his Holy City, “the nations will walk by its light, and the kings of earth will bring their splendor into it” (Revelation 21:24). There will be peace in God’s eternal kingdom.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and usher in your kingdom. Until you do, open closed doors so that the nations may enter into your peace. Amen.
About the author — George Young
George Young, a native New Yorker, worked as a taxi driver in New York City before studying to become a pastor. Then he, his wife Ruth, and their children were missionaries for many years in northeastern Japan. They worked with ministers and believers from the Reformed Church in Japan to spread the good news of salvation in Christ and establish new churches. Now George and Ruth are retired and live in the northeastern United States, nearer to their children and grandchildren.
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