Picture by Caprice Miller
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” – Matthew 16:18
Old, beautiful buildings like the one pictured above make me
wonder about the history surrounding it.
When was it built? Who designed
it? What’s happened there? What’s inside? I can
imagine on the other side of those big, heavy doors there is an interior that would
be just as dramatic and beautiful on the inside. I love the idea that this place would be busy
with activities all the time. People
coming to this place find encouragement, others to celebrate with and
experience life together. Those that
come in find “The Church”.
The verse above is one of those “red letter verses” that was
spoken directly from the lips of Jesus to Peter’s ears. I’m sure at the time Peter could not fully
grasp the meaning of this declaration from the Messiah. He may have had the thought that this
“church” spoken of was a physical building.
But what we know is that the church is not just a building. The church really consists of the people who
come together in the building and worship Jesus
Christ and praise His name. It is really
a world- wide phenomenon. From the
beginning of “The Church” in the book of Acts, we see that this was the
case. Due to persecution, the people who
made up the church realized they had to move from where they were or die. As a result, the church expanded beyond the
borders of Jerusalem and continues to expand today. God is amazing at taking what the enemy would
use to destroy and turning it around for His glory.
Now, imagine yourself as one of the
first Christians. If you had been
threatened with persecution would the Good News of Jesus stop with you? Or would it continue because of your determination
to share the difference He has made in your life? Many times we think because it is a “personal
thing” we just need to keep it to ourselves.
Don’t ruffle any feathers. What
if the first Christians had kept it to themselves? That isn’t what Jesus suffered, died and
conquered death for. Yes, He did it for
you, but He did it for me too and the rest of the world. It says so in John 3:16. Some may find it difficult to share
this message on your own. But we are not
meant to take this journey alone. That is why we are told to come together in Hebrew 12:24-25 -
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
So, while a church building may just
be a building, it should stand as a beacon of light and hope. It is a place where fellow Christians – “The
Church”- can come together to corporately praise God. It is a place where there should be so much
excitement about what God is doing in the lives of those there and that excitement
can’t be contained. It is a place where those searching for that “missing piece”
in their lives feel welcomed and at home.
A place where they will be encouraged also as they begin their journey
in being part of “The Church”. If you don’t already have one, find a local
beacon today so that you can be a part of “The Church” where encouragement and
worship happen when you come together.
