“…the place where you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5b NIV)
During the latter month of August and the first few weeks of September in the year 1990, I was busy reaching out to the community, letting people know that Salt Of The Earth Church would have it’s inaugural service on September 21. I was still attending my home church on Sunday, but after receiving the permission and blessing to plant a new church on the far westside in an area where a church that appealed to a diverse population was needed, I resigned from all my appointed duties: Director of Christian Education, Young Adult Sunday School Teacher, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, Youth Department Worker, and other duties appointed to me by my Pastor. He understood and until this day has been supportive of the vision God gave to me.
This past Sunday, on the way home from morning service and a special lunchtime fellowship following service, at this church, which is still going, I reminisced about the early days of the church. Yes, we are still standing, and the word is still being preached. Ministries continue. Our initial theme is still relevant, “Small Means, But Great Results by Faith.” More than being relevant, this initial theme is inarguably true.
We have not always been in the building we are in now. We have not always been on the three acres we own, but it was a journey. We started in a westside hotel, meeting there for Sunday School, morning service, and even some special services. After about four weeks we moved into a store front in a small office complex. Quickly we expanded from one suite to two suites. Growing and in need of more parking, I started driving around, surveying like Nehemiah did when he went to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. I came across a building, not far from where we are located now. It was built to be a small warehouse, but the company that was going to lease it could not get the financing. A “For Lease” sign went up. I thought that this would be an excellent location, so I prayed that the Lord would touch the heart of the owner to lease the building to our young church. He agreed and we were located there for about eight years. It was at that time that the Lord opened another door for our church, and we moved into our present location. Sunday afternoon I looked on my doorstep and found a outreach flyer from a nearby church. The building looked familiar. And the address seemed to be one of which I was familiar. Guess what? It was that building that was intended to be a small warehouse and where we worshipped for eight years. More than two decades have passed and it’s still a church.
A long account, right? Well, not really. You just got a glimpse of what the Lord was doing. The location we vacated, the building that was in man’s eyes, designed to be a warehouse has housed three other churches since we moved out. It has never been anything but a church. It has never been anything but what I will call “Holy Ground.”
Okay, that was historical and theological, pointing to how God has designated that property to be used for the building up of His kingdom over the years. Now, let’s get personal, hoping to affect the spiritual. When you accepted Christ, you became a member of a Holy Nation. You have a purpose that has never changed. Your location, in Christ, has never changed. Therefore, wherever you go in the days, month, years, and decades ahead, let any place you stand be called “Holy Ground.” Have a tremendously great day! Remember what I have written. Also, recall the familiar verses below. Be blessed!
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (I Peter 2:9-10 New King James Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
It is difficult to view myself as “holy ground”, yet I understand what it is saying of a Christian believer, such as myself. When I accepted Christ, I became a member of a Holy Nation. I don’t think of that as having a purpose, yet I have to remember the great commission in Matthew 28:18-20; that has never changed. What about my location, in Christ? What does that mean to me? Is it that I am part of the body of Christ? Now I know and should recognize, that where I stand is holy ground.
As always, I appreciate your true meditation on the topic and your personal reflection and response. Good biblical references too! Thank you for your ongoing support and for your help when I need an editor with a good eye for the rules of writing. Be blessed!