Ultimately we celebrate because of what God has done in
our lives. The diversity of this church, of any church, reflects something of
the purposes and character of God. God in himself is diverse – Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. And his creation is remarkably diverse - mankind, in all its
shapes and sizes, shows that. God loves the differences - they reflect something
of Him, His creativity and creation.
Eph 3:10 says that ‘the
church displays the manifold wisdom of God’. Behind this statement is the picture
of a diamond with many facets reflecting brilliant light for everyone to see. This
is part of God’s sovereign plan. So when we gather and celebrate as we do today
it’s because there is something of God’s salvation history before us. It’s the
fulfilment of a promise – that’s why it is a prophetic thing because it means
that it speaks as though God speaks. Our gathering is a speaking out – a
statement, the fulfilment of massive biblical promise made centuries ago to
Abraham, when God chose a man and told him that He would make him the father of
many nations. We are part of the fulfilment of that and that’s why we
celebrate.
In that fulfilment of salvation history we also see the
great commission – God sent his Son who came and taught us to go and make
disciples of all nations. Here we
have a glimpse of heaven – heaven will be like our church! Rev 7:9 says,
‘After
this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count,
from every nation, tribe, people and language.’
When we eventually get there it will not just be a
bunch of white people, black people, old people, cool or trendy people. It will
be us - the people of God gathered from throughout the generations – the
fulfilment of all things, the restoration of all things! Here we have a glimpse
of heaven – a promise through the centuries fulfilled in Christ. So we can tell
people that there is a way to know God and ultimately there will be a day when
there will be one celebration, when every knee will bow before him. If that
gets into your spirit and you lift your eyes from the challenge of it – it is
an amazing thing and should give us a sense of wonder - even of awe. That God
can do this – take you and me, who are very different, and bring us together in
Christ! We may have some similarities, but we are different, we have completely
different journeys to this point – only God can do this. So we celebrate!
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