The Most Beautiful Thing

The Most Beautiful Thing

by Brittany Tedesco
Years ago, I picked up a book that contained no words. On each page was a photograph of a person from a unique ethnicity, eyes looking straight at the viewer. Oh the shapes, the colors, the variety in those pages! The images were powerful, though they were nothing more than people's faces. They spoke of God's creativity, and it was beautiful.
The book obviously couldn't capture a representative from every people group. According to Joshua Project, the earth contains more than 16,000 people groups. But one day, we'll see them all – a glorious kaleidoscope of beings made in the image of God.
Imagine with me the beauty of people from every ethnicity on earth joining together around the Throne of God to worship Him in perfect unity, perfect peace, and perfect love. This, to me, is the most beautiful thing.
One day it will be a reality, for God is calling out a people for His namesake from among every nation on the earth, and Christ will not return until every people group has heard the gospel (Matthew 24:14).
I will be there. And I look forward to being joined by the Syrians – former Muslims who met Christ in a foreign land while living in the squalor of a refugee camp. Native missionaries, ministering in these camps, are sending word that thousands of Muslims are turning to Christ. One told us that 200 Muslims became believers in a single meeting he'd held.
I'm looking forward to seeing the many Egyptians who turned to Christ through the quiet testimony of believers who didn't retaliate after their homes, churches, and businesses were destroyed by Islamic rebels. An Egyptian missionary told us so many there are turning to Jesus that he's praying for more coworkers to help him, for the “fields are white for harvest.”
Around God's Throne will be many Kachin people from Burma. This tribal minority is being attacked by the country's government. Bombs dropped from planes have torn bodies apart and spilled much blood. Since 2011, more than 100,000 Kachin have been forced from their homes to live in camps for internally displaced people. The majority has accepted Christ as Savior.
And we can't forget about the Nigerians. Since 2009, Boko Haram terrorists have massacred Christians there. A clumsy government intervention has only claimed more innocent lives. Despite all that, a Nigerian ministry leader reports a harvest of souls. I know of at least three former Boko Haram members who will be joining us around the Throne.
Hideous things are happening in the countries mentioned above, but God is calling out people from among each one of them. In the midst of the horror happening right now throughout the earth, my mind keeps tiptoeing back to the most beautiful thing…when we're all finally home to join our brothers and sisters at the feet of our Heavenly Father. Together. At last.