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 It
is most disheartening to see your church building in the
aftermath of a fire.' The charred wood, the broken glass, the
smoke-blackened walls and ceiling--and that sickening,
lingering, burnt smell that saturates almost everything — all
of it makes for a dismal scene and a depressed spirit.
But,
when concerned brethren go to work, the scene soon improves and
so do our spirits. Not only because they make things look
better, but because of the mutual encouragement that is felt
with such association in worthwhile efforts. How refreshing to
see so many hearts and hands (not to mention pocketbooks)
dedicated to the work of rebuilding! It makes me wonder if our
loss may not turn out to be our gain. At least there are good
things to come from it.
All
of this has reminded me of something that has been demonstrated
time and time again; namely, the willingness of brethren to
respond with such help in the time of misfortune. Some, even to
the point of sacrifice. I look forward to the day when brethren
everywhere will respond to spiritual needs in similar fashion.
We must, for instance, come to see the condition of the church
as being of far greater importance than that of the church
building. We must see that a church beset with luke-warmness is
far worse than a church building devastated by fire — and that
one precious soul imperiled by sin is more tragic than the
smoldering ashes of a dozen church- buildings! Not, of course,
that it is wrong to be concerned for the appearance and
condition of our meeting places (in fact, it is disgraceful the
way some are allowed to run
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down!). As Jesus says, "these ye
ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone"
(Matt. 23:23). The weightier matters involving eternal and
precious souls must never be subordinated to the temporal. If we
can work together in restoring the lesser, why not the greater?
Like
the Laodiceans, we may need our eyes anointed with the eye-salve
that helps us to see our true spiritual condition (Rev. 3:18).
'Though not so apparent as something like a fire-razed building,
discerning eyes can see the damaging effects of such things as
worldliness, indifference, liberalism nod internal strife. Fire
never put the Lord's church out of business but these will!
Concerned and faithful brethren who will see know that even now
the church is being seriously crippled by such foes. Mao cares?
Who will sound the alarm? Who will help in this, the most
important and urgent work on earth?
Who?
Well, frankly, not enough! Some will not see, for "their
eyes they have closed" (Matt. 13:15). Some see, but just
don't care — at least, not enough to involve themselves.
Mostly, they just go along to get along - like the Laodicean’s
would. But, thanks be to God, there are yet a faithful few who
see, and care, and respond to help make the church what it ought
to be. 'These courageous few encourage a few more to help by
taking a stand for God's truth, and the work continues. They
know that we have profited nothing when the church lies in
shambles -- in a fine, new church building. Do you? Dan Shipley
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