06/28/2022
What do we do when the articles of our faith go missing from within our churches? What do we seek when the Arc of our faith can no longer be found in the houses of worship where we once experienced God’s presence, and forgiveness? If every church, cathedral, temple, and house of worship, were demolished, where would we turn to find God? We should do what so many of us did during the COVID 19 pandemic, and what so many others have done under extreme persecution, we open His Word in our hearts, and seek God in our quiet places by retreating into our own temples to worship Him… into the temples of our bodies, and the safe havens of our homes. In these, the personal sanctuaries of our faith, and belief, we find God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. In these places our spirituality remains safe, and is secure from its enemies. The door to heaven remains open.
“After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.””
Revelation 4:1 ESV
When the Pandemic was in full bloom, and our church doors were closed, it was not uncommon to hear fellow believers say that they missed going to church, or felt lost without the fellowship of others. When Our governments outlawed gatherings of people beyond a certain size, and the media treated those who gathered in faith with great disdain, true believers, Christians, were forced to do what they have always done… they turned inward and worshiped in spirit and truth. In this way they found the door to heaven was wide open.
“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
John 14:23 ESV
So now that COVID is retreating, and the churches have reopened their doors, what have we learned? As we wrestle with the fear of its return, or worry that some other spiritual enemy will attack us and close our churches once again, have we prepared ourselves to turn inward once more; have we done what people of faith have done for centuries? Have we learned that Jesus abides in each of us, and that our salvation is not a group effort, but individually sought after? Have we come to realize that our relationship with the Lord is a personal one, even though we reinforce it by gathering together, and by encouraging one another through prayer, and fellowship? Listen to how Paul as he instructs the believers at Philippi…
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
So, when our churches are bolted shut, or burnt to the ground, and our faith is outlawed, or we are persecuted in some way that keeps us from gathering together, are we already in the habit of praying in secret, and working out our own salvation? Do we know how to read scripture, and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit in our quiet places? Can we pray the Lord’s Prayer for one another even though we’ve alone, and do so just as well as we can together?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the times when we can gather together in our faith, and worship you, but thank you more for our personal moments when we find ourselves in your presence, and our faithfulness is strengthened, and formed in your hands. Help us Lord to seek you together as a church, and alone in our prayer closets, so that whatever comes to pass in this world, we will be prepared to hold firm to our faith in you, and your Son Jesus. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who comes to us, calls us, and teaches us to love and follow you. Praised be your name for each moment when we can worship and praise you together as one, and praise your name for our secret times with you when your gentle hand shapes us into the image of Jesus. Merciful are you who teaches us to love, show goodness, and forgive those who harm us; not once but repeatedly… even seven times seventy times. Wash us clean of every sin, and transgression, in the blood of your Son Jesus, and help us to resist temptation, and to sin no more. Prepare us in this way for judgement, and to sit in your presence forevermore… eternally loving and glorifying you.
““And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:5-15 ESV
Rich Forbes