King of the Nations, Come

O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay.

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I am not a betting woman, but if I were, I would bet people have mused about what heaven will look like since the beginning of time. Though curious, I usually leave the heavy lifting to the scholars because I have something else on my mind. I imagine the moment I get to wrap my arms around my grandmothers again. And while clouds and a street paved with gold would be delightful, I cannot wait to enjoy a tête-à-tête with my favorite people in Scripture. 

However, I have no clue what I’ll do when I meet Him—the object of my affection, the love of my eternity, my reason for living. Jesus. 

We all know what it’s like to be reunited with an old friend after many years, but to be reunited with our Creator? That is a reunion that eclipses everything else. It is likely the others will fade into the background, and my once overzealous attitude about meeting them along with it. Still, I wonder what I’ll do. Like the song by the band Mercy Me, “I can only imagine //… Will I sing Hallelujah? / Will I be able to speak at all?” In the midst of all of the confusing subjects we could contemplate forever, one thing is clear: we live for that day. 

Ezekiel 16 describes Israel as an unsatisfied adulterer whose actions were so unsavory that even Philistine women were embarrassed by the Israelites’ indecency. The Israelites were God’s chosen people, those who were supposed to bless other nations through the example they set. In contrast, Philistine women were those who sacrificed children and obeyed their lusts. It reveals the great lengths to which Israel had gone to abandon her Lord. As a result, judgment was announced, and it was evident that there would be no avoiding it. 

And yet, even in the midst of exile, the Israelites had hope. Isaiah reminded them to have hope in reconciliation with their God because a King would be born: One whose name would be “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). 

Jesus is that King. He fulfilled that promise to all people as King of the nations. His words in Luke 4:16–21 brought the hope of reconciliation to everyone: the poor, the captive, and the oppressed. Today, despite the many ways it feels like we have been exiled to a disreputable place, we can have hope, too. 

Today, we wait with hope and expectation for the day God will bring everything, both in heaven and on earth, together in Christ (Ephesians 1:9–10). However, until that day comes, we can imagine. We can imagine what it will be like to live without fear, to gaze at our Savior, and to delight in the peace and contentment His presence creates. We can imagine our King because He is coming.