God spoke to our forefather in the faith, Abraham, and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (Genesis 15:5) God proved true to his word (as always) and Abraham would father Isaac, who would go on to have a son, Jacob. Jacob was then blessed and fathered twelve sons – the eventual heads of the twelve tribes of Israel and the start of the nation of Israel. Despite these humble beginnings, God grew Israel into a nation that would stand, and at times thrive, in the face of some of the most powerful empires the world has ever seen.
From the nation of Israel, God raised up men to proclaim the kingdom that was to come. Isaiah prophesied of the "mountain of the Lord" (Isaiah 4) that would fill the earth and that "all nations would flow to it". Daniel would also speak of the coming of God's kingdom, saying that “it will crush all those [other] kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever” (Daniel 2:44) This painted the picture in the mind of many that the kingdom of God would come through the show of military force. Instead, the kingdom came through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Amazingly, the “gates” to the most powerful kingdom the world will know would be opened on the day of Pentecost by an ordinary fisherman with extraordinary faith.
Before that day, and Peter’s charge to “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38), Jesus had returned to his disciples after his resurrection. He left them with the mission to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). Basically, to spread the good news of kingdom of God to everyone, everywhere! God used the 11 “unschooled, ordinary men” (Acts 4:13) Jesus spoke to that day to spread the kingdom all around the world as it is today.
Do you realize the uniqueness of the kingdom of God? Most earthly empires eventually crumble, due to external force or internal decay. Conversely, the kingdom has gone on through the ages, in one state or another and continues today! God's kingdom crosses all boundaries. Nations, cultures, races, social classes...all people are equal before the throne of God! Where the world draws lines and creates boundaries, the kingdom of God smashes them. Truly making God's name great among the nations! Countries and multinational companies may boast of their global reach, but they are nothing in comparison to God's kingdom.
It is sad when brothers and sisters in our midst take this awesome gift for granted. Disciples of Jesus throughout time have faced immeasurable hardship and persecution to remain united with their brothers. In many third-world countries today, where transportation is not abundant, they must often travel several miles on foot to go to meetings of the body! In light of their example, what excuses can we make? May we never choose to take the body for granted and neglect meeting together (Hebrews 10:25). Instead, let us show the world our unity and our “love for one another” (John 13:35) and in doing so demonstrate the love of Jesus.
We are now the torch-bearers of this awesome kingdom! As we can see from the past the kingdom has gone through times of plenty and times of want. Today, we are the ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20) that God has chosen to show off His son to the world! Where will we see the kingdom go in the next generation? Make no mistake, God's name will be great among the nations, but will he use us to do it? We know that with faith we can accomplish anything we ask (Matthew 17:20) and that the actions of single men and women can turn the tide of an entire nation!(Judges, Kings) Will you step up to the plate? Challenge yourself today that you will make God great among the nations by starting in your own life and giving your all to glorify God!