What Unifies Us

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne; and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.

Revelation 7:9-10

What unifies the people of God?  We come from diverse cultures, eras, and traditions.  We vary in personality, education, and preferences.  We are naturally inclined to disunity rather than unity.  What then truly unites us?  Our text today points to the answer.  John describes the congregation of all of the redeemed in heaven.  He speaks of them as, ‘a great multitude which no man can number.’  They gather around the Throne of Christ.  They praise and worship Him.  They exclaim, ‘salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’  Herein lies the answer to what unites the people of God.  Christ unites us.  We understand that we may be diverse in many other ways.  We may even disagree about points of theology, means, and methods.  On this, however, we unite, that salvation is of God, that Christ is the Lamb of God, Who takes away sin, and that He is worthy of all the praise.  The rest of what we think and do flows from these basic points of agreement.  When we come to discuss the unity of believers, we must begin with Christ.  He is at the very heart of all that unites us.  Worthy is the Lamb.

Our Gracious God and Our Savior,
we rejoice that You draw all of Your people together.
We praise You that as we look to You,
we find ourselves drawn closer
both to You and to one another.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning