God of the Nations

Introduction

Who governs the United States and its territories?

Well, the United States does.

Who governs the island of Puerto Rico?

The United States as well because it is a U.S. territory.

Well, who governs the North Pole?

No one.

The North Pole is not owned by anyone.

In fact, it is considered shared resource since no country has a claim to the North Pole.

The tricky part is that if someone commits a crime in the North Pole there is are no North Pole laws to look to. We would need to look at that person’s country of origin and see if they can be prosecuted according to their country’s law.

However, there is one that claims even the North Pole for himself - and that is God.

God sees the U.S., Puerto Rico, France, China, Australia, and even the North Pole and says: MINE!

The psalmist describes it in this way:

Salmo 24:1 ESV

1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,

All the earth and all that dwells upon the earth belongs to God.

This same sentiment is expressed in a wonderful worship song - that will be sung during the end times judgement by the people of God.

Apocalipsis 15:3–4 ESV

3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Notice how John expresses God claim over the world.

O King of the Nations.

…and since he is king of the nations - the Bible says: all nations will come and worship you.

The Bible in effect is telling us that God rules over every single nation upon the face of the earth.

All the nations belong to God.

There is no square inch on this planet that God does not claim for himself.

…but we have an issue!

Do all the nations come and worship God today?

Do all the nations come and submit to God, do they all praise God, do they all proclaim God is holy and worthy of all praise? NO.

So how can this song be true?

It is God’s will that all nations bring glory to him.

It is God’s will that all nations fear the Lord, believe in the Gospel, and serve him with all their hearts.

However, this song is looking at a future reality where in eternity - people from all nation, tribe, and language will come before the Lord and worship him, recognize him for who he is.

This song looks towards a future state when all the redeemed will bow their knees before his presence.

One day, when God judges his enemies and casts Satan and his followers into the lake of fire, all the redeemed from all the nations of the world will finally come before his presence to worship him for all eternity.

Until that day, we know that the devil and our own sinful nature, will corrupt all human government, such that no nation can truly be called a Christian nation - we look towards eternity…and until that day we sing longing for that day where we will come together with all our brothers and sisters from around the world to worship our savior.