Into The Future

This morning as I was meditating in the word my mind was drawn to Joshua chapter three. Israel is preparing to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised land. Joshua gives instruction to Israel regarding their entering into Canaan. He tells them to keep their eyes on the Ark of the Covenant and the priests that carry it begin to move to follow them. He also instructs them to keep a space of 2,000 cubits between them and the Ark because “ye have not passed this way heretofore.” Finally, Joshua commands them to sanctify themselves. While we could draw analogies to the present nCOVID-19 pandemic of paying attention to the instructions of leadership, maintain a space of separation, and cleanse yourself, that is not the purpose of this writing.

My attention was drawn to the phrase “ye have not passed this way heretofore.” It is without argument or debate that as a world we have never been in this situation before. Neither has the Church! We are in uncharted waters. While in these unfamiliar surroundings we must heed the instructions of Joshua to keep our eyes on the Lord and the leadership He has placed over us. We should also maintain a safe distance to carefully observe where leadership is directing. We may not always understand each step they take but we will trust that God is in control. And we need to spend this time of “isolation” sanctifying ourselves from the things of this world. I saw a post earlier today that spoke to God removing all the “idols” that we have erected with sports, politicians, entertainment, money to get our attention turned back to the thing that matters most, our relationship with Him.

As we move toward an unknown; here is my takeaway as we go forward. Our focus is not on where we have been, and cannot remain on where we are at present, but should be on how we emerge as a post-pandemic Church. The key is preparation. While there will be many “crisis conversions” in the midst of the current situation, reality is many of those will depart as soon as the world gets back to “normal.” I am convinced that we will see a great revival come because of how we, as a Church adapted, to the upset of our normal way of doing church. Never doubt the world is watching how the church responds through this.

While some say defiance and having Church anyway testifies to our strong faith in God, there are others that will see it as foolish risk. I pray that defiance does not harm those churches, but I also know there will be those that say deference demonstrates weakness and caving to politics and the world system. Falstaff, in Shakespeare’s King Henry the Fourth says, “Discretion is the better part of valor. Caution is preferable to rash bravery.” I feel there is a balance between the two. Just because a soldier may desire to fight, he does not wantonly run from cover when the bullets are hitting all around him. He prepares himself, checking equipment and ammo, for the moment the firing stops coming his direction and he can move forward pressing toward the objective. It is so that during this time the Church prepare and equip itself to move ahead.

The challenge we face as a Church is not with programs and activities, but systems. What are we doing to be prepared for those post-crisis conversions? Are we equipped to disciple and develop these souls in a way that roots and grounds them, and sees them begin to bear fruit? As we come out of this wilderness and move into the future God has for us it is imperative that we be prepared in two areas.

1. Spiritually

a. Sanctification: This crisis is going to expose those who truly have the “goods.” The smoke and mirrors have been removed. No longer can a church hide behind music programs, Christian education programs, activities, organizational structure, and talent. Now the lights are up, the fog is gone and the “who, what, and why” is going to be revealed. Ministries that hid behind talent are now going to be exposed by The Light. It will be seen whether the Truth is in them or not. Let us repent and cleanse ourselves from all the weights and sins that distract and detour us from being who God has called us to become. Let us separate and dedicate our lives to be used for God’s purpose.

b. Separation: James Montgomery wrote a book entitled Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? His book deals with the departure of many churches from God’s original mission, design, and desire for The Church. The Church is to be the hands, feet, eyes, arms, the Body of Christ in this world. Our role and responsibility is to be light and salt, the embodiment of the purpose of Jesus Christ in our community. That is why it is important that we not blend in with everyone else in our activities, buildings, or programs, but to separate ourselves and stand out in our faith, our passion, our purpose, and our actions.

c. Submission: We readily acknowledge our need to be submitted to God. As a leader I can never demand of someone what I am not first willing to do myself. As a church we must be willfully submitted to God’s leading. I surrender my will, desires, and plans to Him and follow where He leads. It may not always make sense or fit within my realm of reason. God’s ways are not my ways and His thoughts are beyond my thoughts, but He is always right.

2. Physically

a. Conduct: How we act in the house of God says a lot about our perception and respect for the things of God. When we come into His sanctuary we should do so with humility, prayerfulness, and reverence. When guests come in, what do they see and hear? Do they see people praying, reading their Bible, and preparing their hearts and minds for God to minister to them? Or do they see and an abundance of talking, horseplay, and distractions. We must be careful that we do not take the House of God for granted. Many times, these guests are seeking a church that has a genuine desire for deeper communion with God. If we are not conducting ourselves in a manner that examples that they will look elsewhere. I am not against having conversation in the sanctuary, but if it is principally carnal in nature, we are sending the wrong message. When guests walk through the doors their impression should be that they have entered a sacred place.

b. Commitment: The things we love we are committed to the most. The church should not be something to fill time or space in our week. It should be the most anticipated thing on the calendar. We should be committed to church at all costs. We should be committed to the church in prayer, attendance, financial support, ministry involvement, as well as any other area of our live that can be a blessing to the Kingdom of God. Our attitude needs to transform from “What can the church do for me?” to “What can I do for my church?”

c. Compassion: Our world is going to be emerging from a very tumultuous time. Our friends and neighbors are going to be dealing with loss physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, and in many other areas of life. If there is one thing they are searching for, and the church can provide in abundance, it is compassion. They just need someone to be a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, and a heart to love them. The hurts and fears are real, and their lives inexplicably and forever altered. Bruised, battered, and broken they need to see a God of compassion not condemnation. Jesus Christ did not come condemning but showing great compassion. Going into the future we will compassionately point them to Christ, compassionately lead them to Calvary, and compassionately guide them to Glory. An old song beautifully states, He had compassion on me. They shall come to know Him by our love and compassion for them. Let His loved be shown in our compassion.

If we will begin to prepare and sanctify our lives through repentance, separate ourselves for His use, and submit to His will then The Sanctuary will begin to see the miracles, signs, wonders, and blessings of God work uninhibited in His Church. Let our concern not be for what was or what is, but what is to become. We go boldly into the future prepared, equipped, and filled with faith that God has given us our communities, county, and Western Arizona for the glory of God.