The international extravaganza we call the World Cup is in its full, once-every-four-years swing. Tune in and you’ll see stadiums filled to bursting. There are flags, songs, and traditions, from Scottish bagpipes to Mexican sombreros.
It has brought me immense joy these past few weeks not only to watch the incredible athletes on the pitch, but also to witness how people from every nation come together and celebrate in dozens of different languages. No matter the language spoken, every fan at the tournament is expressing the distinct joy of home.
A Glimpse of Every Nation and Language
Revelation 7:9-10 envisions a future in which all people are brought at last into full unity at the throne of Christ:
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”
Every nation. Every language.
It’s a beautiful image of the kingdom of God, isn’t it? The diversity of this world is on full display, and it is not an accident.
This global tournament in our own backyard gives us a small picture of what the kingdom of God will be like: people from every tribe and every language coming together, finding common ground, forming bonds that surpass cultural barriers, and sharing precious memories.
The Beauty of the Body of Christ
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul writes that all of us serve different functions within the same body: the body of Christ. Every people group has a place in God’s redemptive story, and every language reflects something distinct about the creativity of our shared Maker.
In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit descends on the followers of Jesus, and they flood outside to preach the gospel to any who would listen. When the crowds heard the disciples preaching, they “came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken” (Acts 2:6).
God delights in diversity. He meets every person in the context of their own language and cultural background.
Why Heart Languages Matter
To this day, people tend to resonate most deeply with truth when it is communicated in their own heart language. That reality is not merely a matter of preference. It reflects the pattern we see throughout Scripture.
God desires to be known, and throughout history he has met people where they are: in their own cultures, communities, and languages.
A Unity That Lasts
As with most things in life, this World Cup will end. Visitors will return home, and the excitement will eventually fade. Human unity built on sports, although meaningful, is temporary.
In contrast, the gospel of Christ offers unity that is lasting. It promises that those who follow him will one day enter eternal joy, where people from every nation, tribe, and tongue will gather in a diverse and sanctified community.
The World Cup gathers people around a shared love of soccer. The gospel gathers people around a shared Savior.
One creates memories that last a lifetime. The other creates a family that lasts for eternity.
Pray for the Nations
So as you watch, or don’t watch, the World Cup this summer, join us at Words of Hope in praying for the nations represented on the soccer field.
Ask God to bring justice, hope, and peace to those countries. Pray that God would strengthen the work of churches and pastors as they bring the good news to people around the world in their heart languages.
Ultimately, may the World Cup, with its songs and cheers and chants in a multitude of languages, remind us of the greater chorus to come, when people from every nation and tongue will gather before the throne and worship Christ as one.
Justin Kuiper is a student from Holland, MI, studying English literature at Hope College. His own writing explores the many intersections of faith, storytelling, and the created order. Justin is a life-long soccer fan and plays on the Hope College soccer team.
