Every Nation, Tribe, People, and Language

I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
Revelation 7:9

This past Sunday, I attended my first Polish church service at a local Christian church. It's a very small church in comparison to American churches with an average attendance of twenty. But while it's small and the service is in a language that I barely understand, Jesus shines in this small group of believers. 

The worship is in Polish. The sermon is in Polish. The announcements are in Polish.

But language doesn't matter. 

Jesus shines in the people. 

That's what matters. 

When Chelsea, Savannah, and I walked into this church for the first time, we were instantly greeted. People said hello and introduced themselves in Polish and gave us warm smiles and a lot of grace as we tried introducing ourselves in Polish. Despite the language barrier, we were warmly welcomed into this body of believers from a different part of the world. 

Eventually the service started, and everyone began praising God in Polish. I could only make out a few words like dziękuję (thank you) and a few others. But I can't tell you how beautiful it was to be surrounded by people praising Jesus in another language. 

Since the sermon was in Polish, I had some time to think. And I thought about something that I had never thought about before: 

God speaks and understands every language. 

Think about it.

God invented language.  Genesis even says that He created the world by speaking it into being.

God transcends language. He transcends culture. His love and His truth are universal.  

One day, every nation, tribe, people, and language will worship the Lamb, Jesus, like it says in Revelation.

One day, all believers will be praising God in heaven together and united. Language and culture will no longer be a barrier. 

I was reminded of that promise this Sunday while worshipping with twenty or so believers. While Poland has very few true believers, people that believe in Jesus as the Messiah, these twenty people show God's faithfulness. That one day, EVERY nation, tribe, people, and language will worship the throne of God.

And that includes Poland.