Three hundred years ago today, the Acts of Union of 1707 went into effect, one of several key steps in creating the United Kingdom that we know today. Though England and Scotland had shared a monarch for more than one hundred years, these Acts dissolved the parliaments of both England and Scotland and created one new, united parliament.

So what, you ask? Thanks for asking. It occurs to me that this isn’t the first time (and won’t be the last) that different nations and people groups have been united under one king, forged to be one new nation. In fact, Paul tells us that this is exactly what Jesus did:

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14-22)

In other words, God has joined together Jews and Gentiles into one new people of God. But he’s not done yet:

And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)

We serve a King who is making a kingdom for himself. Jesus’ death on the Cross is the greatest Act of Union ever. And when Jesus returns, he will bring his uniting purposes to conclusion and we will be one nation serving Christ and giving praise to Christ forever.

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