Horizons
Principle: The gospel enlarges my horizons, giving me a concern for God’s world.
Consider this
Barry had been on a foreign holiday once or twice, but he’d basically gone for the sun. Though he loved to eat curry, he’d always been suspicious of immigrants. And he’d never paid much interest to foreign news unless our troops were involved. What had any of it got to do with him?
But he was blown away by Sunil’s visit to his church to talk about his work in India. He was moved by their work with disabled children. He was excited to hear about churches being planted.
And now Sunil had invited him to visit for a couple of weeks, to do some building work and encourage the believers. It was all a bit crazy. Was he really going to India? As a sort of missionary?
Biblical background: read Isaiah 12.
Christian faith broadens our horizons.
We are part of a worldwide family
When you become a Christian, you become part of a worldwide family. Strangers become brothers and sisters. You care about people you’ve never met.
The gospel both affirms and transcends cultural differences. The Bible shows that cultural diversity is part of God’s intention for the human race and part of God’s new humanity. Although every culture is now corrupted by sin, cultural diversity itself is something we celebrate and encourage, part of God’s grace to humanity.
The church must witness to the reconciling nature of the gospel and the vision of people from every nation, tribe and tongue gathered around the throne of the lamb (Revelation 7.9). Christians cannot be insular. We cannot be concerned only with our own neighbourhood or nation. We have broad horizons.
We are part of a worldwide mission
The prophet Isaiah had a big vision — a vision that included the nations. God had chosen Abraham and his descendants for the sake of all nations. ‘All peoples on earth will be blessed through you’, God had promised Abraham (Genesis 12.3). This promise of God shaped Isaiah’s vision of the future. Isaiah looked to the day when the nations would say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD’, so they could learn God’s way and enjoy his reign of peace (Isaiah 2.2-4). He promised a new King David, who would ‘raise a banner for the nations’ (11.12). He called on God’s people to sing God’s praises among the nations.
Isaiah described Israel as the LORD’s servant, called by God to be a light to the nations. But Israel failed in that calling and so Isaiah promises a new Servant. Matthew tells us that Jesus is this promised Servant (Matthew 12.15-21).
Isaiah issued an invitation on God’s behalf: ‘Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other’ (Isaiah 45.22). The Book of Isaiah ends with the promise that ‘all mankind will come and bow down before me’ (66.23). God will do this by sending out his people in mission to ‘proclaim my glory among the nations’ (66.19).
This big vision of Isaiah for the nations shaped Paul’s missionary endeavour. He often justified his ministry among the Gentiles or nations by appealing to Isaiah (Acts 28.23-28; Romans 9.27-33; 15.12; Galatians 4.27). Paul believed he was seeing in his ministry what Isaiah had promised: God was creating a people from all nations united in Christ, through the mission of the church (Romans 10.11-21).
Isaiah’s vision for the nations should shape our missionary vision, as it did Paul’s. We should share Isaiah’s excitement at what God is doing through the gospel among the nations. We look forward to the time when God will ‘gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see [his] glory’ (Isaiah 66.18).
These big horizons mean Christians are committed to working for neighbourhood and city renewal — redressing injustice, pursuing reconciliation and welcoming the marginalised. We can glorify God and serve others through the workplace, business, community projects, government and artistic endeavour. Above all, we litter the world with communities of light, inviting people to submit to the lordship of Jesus and enjoy his grace. Our interest in mission starts with our own neighbourhood and extends to the ends of the earth.
Questions for reflection
What difference will being part of a worldwide family make to your prayers? And to the way you watch or read the news?
The Gospel-centred Life is published by The Good Book Company (cost £3.00), and is printed with permission.
