An Everlasting Promise to All

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

The kingdom of heaven is a promise that has been made by God to all people, not just a select few.

Today’s devotional reading: Acts 11:1-18

The eternal promise of dwelling in God’s kingdom wasn’t promised to just one nation. Jesus told Nicodemus that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life (John 3:16). “Whoever” or “whosoever” means that the promise of not perishing is to everyone, rather than just one specific person or one specific nation of people. Some think that if they convert to a specific nationality, God will love them more, yet God loved the world when He gave His only begotten Son.

We cannot let what separates us today keep us from what the Lord has promised. Division and separation are tactics of the devil, whereas God is all about harmony and unity. Peter had to unlearn what he had learned growing up. Peter, along with other Jews, was taught to love one another with brotherly love, but Gentiles weren’t supposed to receive the same level of love.

For that matter, Jesus had taught the disciples to love their enemies, not hate them. The gospel was meant to be shared with all nations, but when the time came for Peter to minister to Gentiles, he trembled at the thought. God had to show Peter a vision three times and send him to the home of Cornelius so that he could see the righteous vision more clearly (Acts 10). Peter’s experience helped him to share with others like him the righteous vision more clearly as well.

The righteous vision of the everlasting kingdom is one where Christ is the shepherd over one flock that is made up of many nations (John 10:16). This is a vision that the Revelation of Christ reveals will be fulfilled in that day when former things are passed away, and all things become new. The Revelation of Christ reveals the joy and harmony that awaits us when there will be no more death or sorrow. Do not let the bitter division of today’s world keep you from what awaits us in the eternal tomorrow to coe.