HEALING THE NATIONS

It is urgent for the world to hear men and women of God and to know what they have to say. We are living in a time where trust has been lost and untrust is generalized. The world is still waiting for that voice to bring trust back and wake up hope. The mandate of the Great Commission is a direct instruction to bring the good news but it is important to have a clear understanding that this is not only about evangelizing people one by one. Jesus spoke to make disciples of all nations.

In Mathew 28:19 says: "Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations".

There is a substantial difference between "make disciples of all the nations" and "make disciples in all the nations". Meaning is radically different and from there, we have two fundamental considerations: First, Jesus wouldn't send us to do something that we weren't able to fulfill. If he has sent us to disciple nations, it's because he knows that we can do it. Second, it is an order that we can't ignore.

You don't need to be an expert to know that nations are sick; even those with high standards of integrity are facing corruption, social dissatisfaction, financial or educational crisis. The health nation will always be manifested in the market: if the government is inefficient or corrupt, business won't prosper, education is weak, social safety is poor and unfortunately this evil is widespread. It is like a complex disease: like cancer with heart problems and dialysis, everything at the same time. We won't exaggerate if we say that all nations are ill.

A nation needs healing but this won't come with a new governor or another political system or more policies not even with more schools. There is medicine that only comes from God. The question is: what to do for nations to be healed? In Revelations 22, apostle John reveals and emphasizes something transcendental because in one of his visions, he responds to these questions and says: "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations".

The tree produces fruit constantly. It is not past nor future: it is present time. The leaves are for the healing of the nations. How does this happen? The Tree of Life in Revelations takes us back to the garden. In the garden, the Tree of Life was in the middle and while Adam was taking care of it, blessing was flowing. When he stopped taking care of it, curse came. He was expelled of it and God put cherubs with swords to guard the access to the Tree of life. Years later, God sends Moses to build the tabernacle and among its details, there is one that stands out in regard to what we are discussing.

The veil that separated the holy place from the most holy place was a veil made of fine woven linen. It shall be woven with a design of cherubim on the veil (Ex. 26:31). Additionally, two cherubim of gold were made and placed at the two ends of the mercy seat (Ex 25:18).

There, between the cherubs over the Arc, the voice of God was heard (Num 7:89). Even though man couldn't return to the garden, the voice was still heard in the tabernacle. When the priests were in the holy place, they were facing those cherubs on the veil that wouldn't allow access to the most holy place. It was God saying that there is still no access to the Tree of Life.

When Jesus died, the veil of the Temple was torn, from top to bottom (Mark 15:38) and with that we can say, without any doubt, that the cherubs were put aside because the path to the Tree of Life was being opened again for the human race. With His death, Jesus opened a new way -a way of life- through the veil of the most holy place (Hebrews 10:20). Therefore, there are no cherubs that block the access and the leaves of the tree are available again for men.

Now, what are those leaves that heal nations? Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom has orchestrated unenumerated events throughout the centuries with the purpose of giving humankind solutions to many evils that harm nations. In this way, He gives to His chosen these scientific secrets, these tree leaves in the form of medical breakthroughs, new ways of treating illness and pain that bothers millions, bringing healing and redemption to nations.

Many think that the nations were not redeemable but a nation can be redeemed. It can be born in a day. The Lord asked: Or shall a nation be born at once? God works in revealing ways. HE introduced Moses to free Israel from Egypt; He introduced Joseph to preserve Israel in Egypt and when the world was in darkness, HE introduced His Son Jesus Christ. That is how God works: HE introduces a person in history with a Word, with light, with the leaves of the Tree to bring healing to a nation.

That's why, one of the final affirmations in Revelations is "And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there)..." (Rev. 21:24-25).

You can be that person. God may introduce you in an inhospitable, dark place full of threats. But HE will do it because He needs you to bring the leaves of the Tree to that place for healing of nations.