By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. – Revelation 21:24

Scripture reading: Revelation 21

The story of God’s mission to save the nations of the world spans from Genesis to Revelation, from the beginning of the story to its end.

The Bible begins, not with sin and the need for a Saviour, but with God’s good creation. Likewise, the Bible ends, not simply with individual souls being saved, but with a new creation, new heavens and a new earth. God will not abandon His good creation, but promises to set it right, eradicating all that is cursed and twisted and broken:

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

When He does this at the return of Jesus, it will be in fulfillment of the promises that He gave to Abraham and Israel, the promises He fulfilled in Jesus as the faithful Israelite and the true Son of Abraham, and so it will be for the benefit of the nations:

“By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,  and its gates will never be shut by day — and there will be no night there.  They will bring into it the glory and the honour of the nations” (Revelation 21:24–26).

That is the future God has promised, the future we are living for as we carry out the mission God has given us.

Suggestions for prayer

That God would fill us with faith in His promised future, especially of the world being set right, of every tear wiped away and perfect fellowship with Him in His new creation.

This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Nick Smith is pastor of the United Reformed Church of Nampa, Idaho.