I think that God loves for us to have moments where we are so overwhelmed by His presence and his majesty that we are left speechless. Just this week as I listened to a CD of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, I was reminded of an experience that I had when I was in Israel. The choir was singing a song that the first half was sung in English, while the last half was sung in Spanish. Suddenly I was transported back to Israel and a precious experience at the Garden Tomb. It was as if God was saying, “I’m giving you a gift—a gift of memory that becomes even more precious and beautiful as you reflect on it.” Let me explain.
At the end of our visit to the Garden Tomb, we were taken to a quiet place in the garden where chairs were assembled so we could have communion. It was a very beautiful place and the service of the Lord’s Supper that our pastor led was extremely moving. Just think of it—eating the bread and drinking the cup in the very place where my Lord was buried and resurrected!! All of us were deeply moved by the experience. After the service we sang a few songs as we sat in the garden.
What we didn’t realize was that other groups scattered throughout the garden area were doing the same thing. In the middle of our service another group began singing a song that was very familiar to us, yet they were singing it in another language. After they finished, we heard yet another group singing a song that we all knew well in yet another language. In our hearts, we sang along with them, all worshipping the same Lord Jesus. It was a beautiful and emotional experience and one that I shall never forget as long as I live.
This is an experience that I believe I will be continually reminded of when I live in heaven in the presence of Christ. John the Revelator describes a similar scene in the seventh chapter of Revelation when he says, “ After this 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 in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”
Clearly, we are told here that all languages will be represented in heaven. I wonder if that means that each one of the multitude was worshiping the Lamb in his or her own language. I like to believe that is true. What a beautiful picture of the unity, yet diversity that is possible in Christ! While in Israel I was exposed to Christians from many different nations, tribes and languages and God showed me a snapshot of what heaven will be like. We will all maintain our uniqueness, yet we will worship the One who died for all mankind—the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
