Glory like water
If you ever want to feel small, go to the ocean. Whether you are on a boat surrounded by water or are standing on the shore and see the never-ending waves crash on the beach, there is just something about the enormity of all that water, which comprises 71 percent of our planet.
Having lived in proximity to the ocean my entire life, I am enthralled every time I stand on the seashore. The oceans seem limitless, and that’s only at the surface where we can see. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggests that humans have explored only 5 percent of the earth’s oceans. That means 95 percent of the oceans have not been seen by human eye. How vast are the waters of earth!
In Habakkuk chapter 2, God, through the prophet, gives a scathing judgment to the nation of Babylon. God lets Babylon know that one day they will meet a bitter end. Just as they had conquered and plundered all their neighbors, they too will one day be conquered and plundered, and all the earth will witness their destruction.
In the midst of this judgment, God provides an assuring promise to His coming Kingdom in verse 14: “For the earth with be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
While Babylon will one day end up on the ash heap of history, God’s kingdom will fill the entire earth and all will know He is God. Every one of man’s kingdoms will come and go, but God’s kingdom will reign forever. Just as the waters cover the sea, so will God’s glory fill the earth.
This is not the first time God has made this proclamation. Numbers 14:21, Psalms 72:19, and Isaiah 6:3 all make reference to God’s glory filling the earth. It is a direct reminder to us of who is really in control and where human history will one day find its ending.
The disciples had the coming kingdom on their minds in Acts 1 when they asked the risen Jesus about the timing of the kingdom. Jesus did not rebuke their question. The kingdom was indeed still imminent, but not yet. Instead, Jesus gives them a responsibility to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.
This Great Commission is for all of Christ’s followers. We, like the prophets of old, are tasked to make this proclamation and invite people into the kingdom of God through the saving work of Jesus Christ. What a privilege! For we have confidence and hope that one day the evil strongholds of this world, like Babylon of old, will be destroyed. All sin and unrighteousness will be judged and punished. God’s everlasting kingdom will one day be established. The whole world will know God’s glory extensively and abundantly as the waters cover the sea.
One commentator put it this way, “The jagged rocks of injustice and the slimy seaweed of sin will be covered with the smooth surface of God’s righteousness.” Are we living our lives in light of this truth? Let’s be on mission to proclaim the message about this coming kingdom and this coming king! Explore how you can be involved by searching our missions opportunities.
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
