Emirates' Roar

Last night, I joined an online meeting regarding some planned Christian outreach. I find London considerably warmer than the north; my window remains wide open each night and during the day. Inbetween some of the contributions, I heard roars and cheers, for I am one sixth of a mile from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium at Highbury. The Gunners (or the “Ganners” and “Owsenaw”, as the locals are pleased to pronounce it) were playing European rivals Bayern Munich and it ended 2-2. I never heard the Germanic roars of triumph, but the home supporters’ deafening peals of approval for those two goals could not be missed.

I walked past the stadium the day before. Only a handful were then outside, including a German news crew. Last night, it held thousands. This coming Sunday, many churches in Britain will be fairly empty, with the majority of Britons, including many of the night’s throng, found elsewhere. Isaiah the prophet warned in 17:12-13a:

Woe to the multitude of many people

Who make a noise like the roar of the seas,

And to the rushing of nations

That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters;

But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away…

Cheering over ultimately worthless things distracts us from the enormity of eternal truth and its vital consequence. There shall one day be a cheer and a roar that far outstrips anything emanating from the enjoyment of Association Football:

Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”

And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:5-7, NKJV)

A part of me was sad that I was not at the Emirates myself to see the game; I am much happier that among those thunderous cheers and acclamations of Revelation 19, my little, undeserving voice shall be heard among them.