Desire of nations

Come, Thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

~Charles Wesley, “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”

The Olympic Opening Ceremonies are always neat, right?

Inevitable controversies notwithstanding, I love watching the Parade of Nations.

All those flags representing all the different peoples, coming together.

President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee Tony Estanguet agreed:

What a sight it is to see you all parading together! What a rare and precious moment you have given us!

And even though the Games cannot solve every problem,

Even though discrimination and conflicts are not about to disappear,

Tonight you have reminded us how beautiful humanity is when we come together.

And when you return to the Olympic Village, you will be sending a message of hope to the whole world: that there is a place where people of every nationality, every culture and every religion can live together. You’ll be reminding us: it is possible.

The start of the Olympics came right on the heels of our Vacation Bible School, Building the Body.

Using a construction theme, we taught the kids about the Body of Christ—the Church. We learned about how the Church welcomes ALL kinds of people from ALL nations to worship Jesus as one unified body, and how the Church waits excitedly for Jesus’ return when He will bring about the culmination of all things.

God bless the members of the body who provided meals all week for us. Below, three worn-out crew leaders enjoy such a meal in front of the Olympic ceremonies after a very long week.

So these refrains (Who is one body? THE CHURCH! Who waits for Jesus’ return? THE CHURCH!) were fresh on my mind.

You’re right, M. Estanguet. The Games cannot solve every problem. But your speech and the pageantry in front of you movingly articulate the desire of nations: that there is a place where people of every nationality and every culture can live together. 

There is an Answer to that desire. 

And that place of eclectic inclusion is open not to those who, like elite athletes, strive and work and sacrifice themselves… that place of peace and glory hangs out a welcome sign to those who merely trust and believe in the One who already did it all.

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 honor of the nations.

Revelation 21:24-26