When was a child, my classroom had a globe. I remember spinning it around, seeing the names and shapes of far off places, and wondering what they were like.
I’ve been to many corners of that globe now, but a lot of the names and boundary lines have changed a few times over. I wonder what countries are listed on that old globe from my childhood? A globe is a fascinating snapshot in time and political history.
Some people collect old globes. They use the names of the countries to help determine the age of their antique. Does Bangladesh exist? If so, the globe was made after 1971. Is Turkey home to Istanbul or Constantinople (pre-1930)? Is Vietnam one or two countries (pre-1976)?
Since the very first globe was created, the actual land masses and bodies of water haven’t changed much. What changes, with regular frequency, are what we humans decide to call those land masses.
Sadly, the decision to change a name or border is often brought about by war.
But from God’s perspective, earth is all just one big world filled with His children. One day all our fighting over borders and names and ownership will end. God will put a stop to it.
As God spoke through the prophet Habakkuk, one day God will erase all those boundary lines. There will be no more war or cause for war because His glory will fill the earth and everything in it. We will only be able to stand together in awe of His beautiful, brilliant love.
Dear God,
Thank you for your promise to end all war and fighting and greedy or fearful bickering over property, boundaries, and power. I know it breaks your heart to see how we treat each other because of arbitrary borders. I look forward to the day you fill the earth with the knowledge of your glory. Until then, teach me to live like there are no boundaries worth fighting over. Teach me instead to love all your children and to live generously, as if I already have an inkling of your glory.
CamDevo 