What's Next?

What’s Next?

          I've been cleaning out my Art/craft Room. My husband gave me some beautiful shelving from Ikea for Christmas. My son, Adam, and husband, Jon, spent Christmas Eve day putting them up for me. My son Todd and daughter-in-law gave me cool storage containers with many drawers in them. Adam also, gave me great music to work by.

          As a result of all the cleaning, I found this sketch I made many Christmases ago.  I decided to put it up here because it might be where some people are as they look toward the New Year. You may be as I have been at times, staring with dullness into the night’s fire, tired, bone weary, and discouraged. Not knowing when the Messiah will come.

          But have faith. Just when you think there is only darkness ahead for you, the next turn of your head may reveal angels waiting to shower you with hope and joy, and a star biding you to follow it to a new calling.

          “Fear not, for unto you is born this day in the city of David . . .” I love the answer the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us.”

Yes, when God calls, be excited to say, “LET’S GO!” 

The Gospel Tree

The Gospel Tree

          For the month of December our pastors Greg Ralston and Evan Westburg preached on the gospel of how to come to, and follow, Jesus. They preached on how God has a plan for us, that we are separated from Him through sin, that God made a way for us to come to Him through His Son, and that we must, not just believe in, but accept this gift. No one else can do it for us. Since they used a Christmas theme I made a Christmas tree that held this message. I added to the tree each week.

          Here is the finished Gospel Tree. Also, here is something my oldest son Todd wrote recently, and I think it fits here.

The Story of My Foolish Faith

By Todd Spieker

I am a fool I believe that this infinite, complex, ancient universe has a beginning. I believe that it has a beginner A first Word, and a last one. But when I look outside the world is broken. Yet we yearn for wholeness Death is our constant companion. Yet we cling to life Look outside and you will see evil winning and good losing. The heroes die and the good FAIL. I believe that Once the God of light entered this dark world. This light that built the world lived in it. He set aside his strength and put on weakness and humanity. The creator became his broken creation. He came to turn all people back towards God, back towards the author of all life. came for the forgotten, the outcast, the poor, and the weak. came to help those alone in a dark world at first it seemed like the darkness won. He was abandoned by his friends, and condemned by those who claimed to serve his father. He died, alone, outcast, poor, and weak just like those he came for. And as he lay cold and dead in a dark tomb, his followers scattered. But that is not the end of the story. No, when his followers came his body was gone. They saw him again, Not dead, alive. The light, this light that entered the world was not extinguished. The darkness did not overcome him Three days later He lived, The grave could not hold him. This Lord, this light, the same God who made us This God calls us to die like him. To die to our darkness, to be raised new in his light. To live as his agents of restoration This is his plan This is how he sets it right I die in order to live. I surrender to be set free. My faith is a paradox, where the last is first and the greatest died for the least. But this God is not happy with just me. This God loves his creation. This God died for his creation. This God rose for his creation. This God won’t rest until his creation is whole. This God seeks his people like a poor woman searches for a lost coin Like a shepherd for a lost sheep Because we are his prized possession. This God is the one who calls me. The one who called me, when I was selfish and cruel and evil I believe this God calls you Come be a fool.

Put on Christ

Put on Christ

This sketch is from one of the earlier sermons in our church by Evan Westburg. He preached on this verse.

 Colossians 3:9-14, -Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another of any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

This sketch is how I interpreted a church that embodies this verse. Here are people holding each other up, working at being humble and kind, bearing with each other and forgiving.  

          

What would happen if we really did this within our churches? What if when we disagreed with leadership we didn’t take our ball and go home? What if when the music wasn’t our taste, we had patience? If the songs were too fast, or too slow we didn’t run off to another church hoping it would fulfill our laundry list of needs? 

Say the older generation made room for the styles of the younger and the younger left a place open for music familiar with another generation? By the way, this doesn’t necessarily mean a battle over using hymns. Both sides seem to like hearing a classic hymn now and then. It is mostly modern vs 90’s style music.

Oh yeah, and what if when we didn’t agree with how the money was being spent, we didn’t try to disrupt the entire church by talking in secret meetings to get our own way? Then leave taking many with us. Only to find another imperfect church, one that we will leave again somewhere down the line.

If someone hurts our feelings, or a Sunday School teacher is not up to our standards can we be examples of commitment and stick it out?

Then cover it all with a deep, consuming love for one another. A love that overlooks, forgives, and has compassion. This would strengthen individual churches by not having a constant stream of strangers flowing in and out of its doors. We could get to know each other, and really be a family.

Wow! I want to be in that church. Where do I go? Oh, yeah, I stay right here in my lovely, but imperfect church, and commit to dearly loving, forgiving, and being compassionate to my own church family.

Colors of Life, rainbows of faith

Joseph

          When Pastor Evan preached on Joseph he spoke about each event in the life of this patriarch of the Bible. Joseph was given a multi-colored coat as a present from his father. I have drawn Joseph in his coat, but in each patch of color I put an event that occurred in his life.

          On both sleeves I have written the lesson Joseph teaches us. Follow God no matter the results. Even when Joseph was thrown into a cistern and left to die, he believed in God. He was sold into slavery, but this did not cause him to lose trust. His faith stayed strong after he was thrown in prison for something he didn’t do. In the end God used Joseph to save his people, and the Egyptian people, from mass starvation.

          Don’t give up! Continue to trust. God has a plan.

Holy Smokes, Holy ground!

Holy Ground

          When our little church was given the land where we now have our building, we stood on that property and sang “We Standing on Holy ground.”  We stood in a circle and held hands, knowing God had called us to this place. My friend poked my arm and pointed to my middle school son. He had taken off his shoes and socks, and stood in the dirt with bare feet as he sang.

          When God called Moses to free His people He came in the form of a burning bush. God spoke to Moses from the bush and told him to take off his shoes for he stood on holy ground.

          When God calls us to serve Him, to a ministry, or even for the first time to be His child that place becomes holy. The dirt doesn't tremble, the rocks don’t start to glow, but when He calls, and we answer, that place becomes charged with the Holy Spirit and we are “standing on holy ground.”  

No Other Gods

No Other Gods

          As Pastor Greg spoke about God’s commandment “have no other god’s before me,” in my mind I could see a cleared path leading to the Almighty. Pushed to both sides are the things that have taken over my thoughts and time in front of God. A lot of these things are good in themselves, even wonderful, but if they get in the way of God being the center of our lives then we have an idol. 

          If worrying about your children takes over from the trust you have in God, then you need to give them over to Him. Praise God for what He has planned for them, and trust. He really cares more about them than even you do, anyway.

If church ministry prevents you from spending alone time with God, then you need to put it in its place.

Even pain can take over your mind, filling it with negativity and depression. Actively pushing these thoughts aside may take great effort. Get others to help by praying for you.  

There are so many things that take your eyes off of God. Push them out of the way with a purposeful shove. God is a jealous god. Not jealous of other gods, gods that don’t even exist, but jealous for you, in wanting you to experience the very best of the love and care He wants to give you.

When Did We See You?

When Did We See You?

          This sermon, preached by Greg Ralston, came just after he spent time with his parents, helping his mother move into a nursing home. It allowed him to remember the commandments about honoring our parents, and how we treat each other is how we want to be treated. His daughters tease him about, “Be nice to me. I will choose your nursing home.”

          In Matthew 25:31-36 Jesus talks about heaven and how The Son of Man, Jesus, will separate those that really knew God, from those that just said they did.  Some come feeling certain they will be recognized right away. But God doesn’t know them.  Others God know does know immediately. Why?

He tells them they gave Him water when He was thirsty, food when He was hungry, clothes and a home when needed. The others did not. Both were confused. Jesus said whenever you have done these things for someone in need, you have done it for me.

This made me think what would we do if we truly saw Jesus in the sick bed, on the street destitute, or in prison? Maybe we would act quicker, think about it less, and reach out more. 

Contentment

Contentment

          This day’s sermon, by Evan Westburg, was from Psalm 30 and contained a prayer to be content. For us not be so poor that we are worried and distracted from God. Yet not too rich that we forget our need for Him.  

          How do we get there? What is too rich, too much? Is the list of food, shelter, entertainment, comfort, friends and family in our lives, enough? If you do have the above and more, there are others around the world that wouldn’t even rise to, enough.  Maybe we could share as much, and as often, as we can.

          If we are struggling to have enough, we need to not let these worries distract, but allow it to teach us to keep going, even in fear. I lived for two weeks in a poor village in Thailand last year. There they had no kitchen sinks. They washed dishes in the yard with a hose. They had little furniture, sleeping, eating, and sitting on the floors. Chickens and dogs wondered in the streets. My friend Moses lived in a one room bamboo hut with his family of nine people, sleeping on the floors. Yet both he and his sister shined with the love of Jesus. Both were content. 

          Pray this prayer with me from Psalms 30:7-9:

Two things I ask of you Lord: do not refuse me before I die. Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or I may become poor and steal and dishonor the name of my God.   

Generousity

Generosity

          This sketch came from two sermons on generosity. The first was preached by Evan Westburg, the second by Greg Ralston. The words in the picture tell the sermons. Fear keeps us from being able to give freely. We need to let go of the worries, “the what if’s?” and the questions of “what about me?”  Those fears cause us to hold our possessions with a death grip. They keep us from receiving the joy of being able to trust God, and having the privilege of blessing another.

          Here are the verses that are printed inside the word “Generosity.” Mark 12, Matthew 57:30, Psalm 50, 1 John 3:18, John 18:6, Acts 44-47, Psalm 24. These references help us understand several points. That God already owns it all but grants us the honor of being able to return a portion back to Him.  They show that God desires for us to be a giving and generous people. Not to show how great we are but to shine the light back to His Glory. 

Choice

Choice

The Sunday after the shooting in Aurora, CO our pastor, Greg Ralston, decided to change his sermon topic. Knowing his congregation would be emotionally affected by the news.

First he mentioned something I had also thought about. Aren’t we, at some level, surprised that this kind of thing doesn’t happen more often? Think about the thousands of people, and hundreds of places, where someone could inflict this type of massacre. Could God be keeping us from far more evil than we know about?

Greg then taught about choices. (Genesis 1:7-31) We are fashioned in the image of God regardless of what people do, or who they are. He declared it good. God created us good. God’s image rests in all of humankind, but we can choose to go our own way. (Genesis 3:3-7) The story of Adam and Eve is the story of all humankind. There is always a tempter and always a choice before us. (Romans 5:12). Sin is an infection that has gone unchecked for 1000's of years. Humankind has a fallen nature. (Romans 7.15-23) There is a war going on inside us between being created good, and doing evil. There is a struggle between good and evil. Even the best people we know will admit to moments of wanting to do wrong.

Then Greg spoke directly to the event n Aurora. The key words in Romans 1:18-32 are "God gave them over". God loves everyone so much that he gave us free choice. You cannot be completely free and be limited by God. In order to fully experience free will, humankind has the capacity to experience horrific deeds.

People need a savior. (1 John 1:8-10) We cannot clean our own lives, sin is too deeply rooted in who we are. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19) We need to be remade. It' not enough to modify our behavior, we can only be cleansed by God.

We must let God remake our inner being. That's the challenge in being a follower of Jesus, to choose complete surrender to Jesus Christ.

Thank you for the Prayers!

THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS!

This drawing was inspired by the Sunday service held right after the wild fires had rolled along the foothills of Pikes Peak. Our church spent time in that morning service praying for those who had lost homes and for the evacuees. This service made me think about all those around the country that were praying for Colorado Springs as the flames raced down the mountainsides.

Along with the extreme heat from the weather, the burning eyes from the smoke, and the fear of evacuation we experienced hope through your prayers. I know that people from all across the country prayed. From those of us that witnessed the blaze, and those that experienced loss, we thank you for the covering of your prayers. God sent cooler weather, brave firefighters, less wind and a new appreciation for what is really important.

The One Thing

The One Thing

     Do you have one thing? I mean the one thing, the spark that keeps you going in life?

Last Sunday Dan Danielson, former Covenant Army Chaplain, spoke at Living Hope Covenant Church. His message was titled The One Thing. What is the one passionate, love of our life, that one thing that makes life worth living?

     Dan brought in the story of King David. David loved God and being in His presence. It was his most loved thing. He’d rather spend one day in God’s courts than a thousand elsewhere. When repenting of sin he cried to God in Psalm 51:11(NIV)”Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”

     This brought to my mind a song from contemporary singers Shane and Shane. Their song is called Without You:

I can walk through the storm

I can walk by faith when my sight is gone

Just as long as you are there with me

And I can gain everything

But what do I have if I don’t have the King?

Oh, I need to know you are here with me

If your presence goes, I don’t wanna stay.

If your presence stays, I don’t wanna go.

I need you.

God’s is always there. But when you decide to stop and concentrate on Him you can experience being near to God, aware of Him. It’s not about the place it’s the presence of God that matters. You could be somewhere still enough to listen to His words, or loud enough to send Him shouts of praise. This is where we connect with the heart, mind, and spirit to a passionate God.

The church building isn’t a magical spot where God is kept. Don’t leave Him there after Sunday service. Spend quality time worshiping Him throughout your day, and be used by Him in mercy, justice, and love. Be in His presence.

Wait! Stop! Don’t use this as an excuse for not going to church. God’s word is very specific about wanting us to meet together. We NEED each other. Church is a place for encouragement, inspiration, learning, and accountability. If you want to grow stronger in faith, closer to God, and wiser in your decisions then fellowshiping with others is where you need to be.

Picture of Prayer

Picture of Prayer

     Living Hope Covenant Church is doing a program called 40 Days of Prayer. Pastor Greg Ralston preached on the subject.

     Have you ever tried to draw prayer? That’s what this week’s picture is. My picture is of what praying looks like to me. Notice the exact place where the prayer is taking place isn’t made known. I am often unaware of my surroundings when I am in deep prayer. Not a good time to be driving when doing this kind of God communication. Although, I’ve found that the most beautiful places, that would seem to give the most inspiration, can be a distraction when it’s time to get down to business.

When I pray thoughts, feelings, and requests can float in and out, back and forth. I’m not a linier thinker, and my prayers often reflect that. There can be a total wash of God’s presence, or no feeling at all. The times with no emotional response often turns out to be the most productive. Later in the day or week is when I notice the change in me that I needed, or the prayer answered. I think that is God showing me it’s not about my emotions. It’s about a real God, getting things done.

     Anyway, here is the website for the 40 days of Prayer, if you are interested in strengthening your prayer life.

www.40-days.org 

Remember

REMEMBER

          Memorial Day Sunday, Greg Ralston, reminded us what Pastor Nass told us last week. That the word remembering literally means to reassemble. To put  back together, as if putting the pieces of a puzzle in place. I LOVE that image!

          We celebrate Memorial Day to remember those who have died in battle for us. They deserve this honor for their sacrifice. At this time of remembering, Greg, pointed out another purpose for building monuments.

          Greg spoke on two passages. The first one was 1 Samuel 7:1-12. 

            Here are verses 10-12 : ¹⁰ While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered^(U) with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic^(V) that they were routed before the Israelites. ¹¹ The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Kar.

            ¹² Then Samuel took a stone^(W) and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer,^[b](X) saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

          So far, so good. Yes, God has helped us up to this point. To me this says, "And why wouldn't He continue to help?" If you have experienced God's power, peace, or forgiveness before why not believe Him now? Don't lose faith at this point when you've seen him do so much for you. Building a monument in some form, writing, art, or a stone on the desk can be a way of reminding yourself of what God has already done in your life.

          The second passage was when God told Joshua to take stones from the middle of the Jordan river to build an altar.

            Joshua 4:4-9 ⁴ So Joshua called together the twelve men^(A) he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, ⁵ and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan.^(B) Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites,⁶ to serve as a sign^(C) among you. In the future, when your children^(D) ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’^(E) 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off^(F) before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial^(G) to the people of Israel forever.”

           

            We can also make a memorial as a way to pass on our own experiences to the next generation. How smart God was to have them build these stones to keep the message alive.                               Greg suggested we do this. This drawing is my memorial. On each stone I have written a note to myself to remind me of a time when God kept me safe, answered a desperate prayer,  or revealed His presence to me in a profound way.

Connected Through Christ

Connected Through Christ

          When I attended the Racial Righteousness Conference held at the Relevant Word Church a few months ago I drew this flower. This event brought together people from all four of the Covenant Churches here in Colorado Springs. We had Relevant Word,  Iglesia Cristiana Getsemani, Faith Covenant, and Living Hope Covenant. We were people of different races, ages, and cultures. But we were all connected by Christ.

          Months later, last Sunday, we reunited again. This time at my church, Living Hope Covenant. Pastor Naas, from Faith Covenant preached. Low and behold he spoke about being connected. His take was that all of us have many different interests and activities in our lives, but Christ needs to be at the center of them all.

          I think this flower tells both stories. One is that we are united as a people through the love of Jesus. We are one in Christ. What a beautiful bouquet of flowers we were!

          Second is that in each area of our lives, school, jobs, sports, hobbies, God is there. He should be the constant connection. Don't categorize your life and leave God out of a portion of your time. He should be your center, connecting each piece together like the petals of a flower. 

God Gifts

God Gifts

          Pastor Greg Ralston spoke on God gifts. No, not on all those wonderful things God gives us.  All those blessings we keep counting, and then lose track of. That is a whole other sermon of its own.

          This is what we NEED to give God. Hurts that are sometimes hidden deep in out spirit. Other gifts burst out in uncontrolled joy. Or there are things we've forgotten we've already given Him and take back, like our fears.  The list goes on.

          So, that is what I did. I made a list with my drawing. I made a picture of my gift and then drew on the wrapping every piece of my life I knew I needed to give to God.  For Him to use, throw out,  take joy in, or put under His control. As I drew and wrote down these gifts I received peace, inspiration, and strength. You may not even be able to read all the things I put down, but that's okay. The gift isn't for you.

          Make a list for yourself. You don't have to draw it, but you can if you want. Remember God is always ready to give, and receive. 

Receive Mercy and Give it Away

Receive Mercy and Give it Away

1 Peter 2:9, 10 NIV

 " . . . that you may declare the praises of him who called you

                              out of darkness

                                                into his wonderful light. 

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;

             once you had not received mercy,

                   but now

                              you have received

                                                mercy."

          This verse says exactly what the sermon that Evan Westburg preached on, in his three part sermon on mercy. We have come from the darkness into light and have received mercy. Now go back and give the mercy away. We need to find tangible ways to give mercy to the ones right beside us, and the ones far across the world.

          Evan took us back in church history to see ways the church has shown mercy. Even times when the majority failed, there were those that cared. We learned about the Jesuits, Phillip Spener, John Wycliffe, John Huss, and Martin Luther.

          We've plenty of opportunities to show mercy in our day and age, too. Neighbors, friends, and families can be among those that we extend mercy. On a more broader scale organizations such as Compassion that supports children in third world countries, using Fair Trade products, and reaching out to the homeless are tangible ways to be Christians of mercy.

          As Evan said, "The church needs to be the place of mercy. The source for people to draw mercy from and extend out to the world."

          In a book that I am working on called "Walled Mercy" that is the very theme. Sometimes we Christians fight with the world and are so desperate to be right, when we need to be desperate to love.   

Starting Over

Starting Over

          Last Sunday I taught children's church and missed the sermon. I went back a few weeks into my sketchbook for this one from Evan Westburg. His theme was about starting over.

          One of his illustrations was a story of Peter. The disciple known for jumping in without thinking. For reacting first and not always getting it right. In other words he had no filter. What came into his mind came out his mouth, or into action. No, "Let's think about this first."

          Jesus foretold that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed. Peter knew he wouldn't. No he couldn't. But he did. After Jesus had been arrested Peter sat by a fire outside the palace of the high priests. Three times someone came to Peter and asked, "Aren't you one of Jesus disciples?" Three times he denied he knew Jesus. As the cock crowed Peter wept bitterly.

          After Jesus rose from the dead He walked along the shore where the disciples were fishing. When Peter realized he saw Jesus he dove into the water and didn't even wait for the boat to get there. This is where, over a blazing fire as their fish cooked, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him.  Peter answered that of course he did. Jesus said "Then feed my sheep." This Jesus repeated three times. Jesus gave Peter the chance to start over. To forget his mistakes, be forgiven, and begin again.

          

Exodus 14

A BUG! PANIC!

I recently spent time with my little friend, Ellia. She is Pastor Evan's  youngest daughter. I was in the hallway at church when she and her mom popped out of Pastor Greg's office in a hurry.

Ellia, known for her quiet, fragile voice was shouting, "A bug!! I see a bug! I don't like bugs. Mommy, I don't like bugs!" 


Crying, she came over to me and in her small, frightened voice she said, "Faye, I'm scared of bugs. We saw a spider. I don't like bugs." 

Using my stand-by distraction method, I said, "I don't either, but I like Lady Bugs. They're okay,  right? They 're cute."

"Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!" Ellia hurried into her daddy's office.

Mommy said, "I'm sorry. Ellia is very afraid of any kind of bugs. Even cute ones."

Daddy calmed her crying. "Don't be afraid," he told  her and  helped her to stand firm. In his hug of assurance he helped her to be still and quieted the panic.

But when it was time for me to leave, and she came out of Daddy's office to hug me good-by she whispered fearful words into my ear. "A bug, Faye, I saw a bug. I'm scared of bugs."

She hadn't moved on and I realized she was still caught up in her fear. I whispered back, "The bugs are all gone now, Ellia."

"The bugs are all gone?"

"Yes"

She smiled and ran back to mom with a happy voice. "The bugs are gone, Mommy. They are all gone!"

Today's pencil preaching is from Greg Ralston's sermon last week. He began by setting the scene of the original Passover event. The part where the blood of the sacrificial lamb is placed on the doorposts. The top part and the two sides of the door. The angel of death then passes over  the homes of these people.  Greg reminded us that if we draw a line from top to bottom and side to side, this forms a cross.

Then, as in Ellia's story, the Israelites went through the same range of emotions as she did.

Panic, as they came to the Red Sea. "Why didn't we just stay in Egypt? It's better than dying in the dessert."

Moses told them, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Moses' words helped, some. It did stop their panic, but they didn't moved on from the fear.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. ¹⁶ Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground." 

When you are faced with a situation of panic listen to the word of God from the many places in the Bible where He says, "Don't be afraid." Then instead of rushing about with frantic urgency, stand firm on God's promises. Be still and listen for what to do next. Then don't get stuck in that fear. Take a step, and then another, and allow yourself to move on.

Cristus Victor

Cristus Victor

Imagine, in a blink everyone gets it. Jesus is Christ. He is the Lord, the Messiah. Those who thought they knew Him, but didn't except Him, will know. Those who hated Him, will know. Even those who never heard of Him will understand. Those that refused to believe He even existed will realize that they missed it. Everything will all make sense.                                                                       

Greg Ralston preached on the verses that spoke about the end times. In Philippians2:9-11 it tells us:

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
   and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.

At that future moment everyone will know and understand. But in the here and now we need to work at loving, sharing, and proclaiming the love of God to everyone. How much is literal in our interpretations of what it will look like? I don't know, but to me one thing is clear.  Those of who know Jesus Christ need to be a force of love and witness to everyone we can. Not criticizing or demanding, but getting the message of the Gospel out in way that draws people to Jesus. To send out a scent of love and caring that is so strong and enticingly pleasant that they will want to find out more.                                                                                         

Revelation 7:9: 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.”

These people were martyrs during the great tribulation. Those that gave their life to Christ, literally. They lived for Christ proclaiming God's love and died refusing to  deny their belief and love for Him. Later in that chapter it speaks of God wiping all the tears from their eyes. I wonder if their tears are for the people they could not convince, or could not reach with the message of God's love?