“And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18 Good News Bible)
Remember the movie, “Field of Dreams,” and the unforgettable line, communicated from some unseen source, “If you build it, they will come,” in reference to building a baseball field in the middle of nowhere in the Midwest. And do you recall at the seemingly unending line of cars coming to the field at the end of the movie? Well, I had one of those days last week when I took a toddler, hard toy basketball rim, and two miniature basketball rims outside and placed it in the driveway. One good neighbor, also a grandmother, was watching her youngest granddaughter, age 2. The two-year old sees me and my granddaughter, age 4, playing basketball in the late morning heat. She looks at her grandmother and points to my driveway and motions for her to take her over to join in the fun. She gets her way and joins in the playing. Oh, I got my share of exercise, running down every ball that headed into the street and lifting the two-year old up to slam dunk as my four-year old unselfishly tilted the rim over so she could dunk too. Another neighbor had a relative pull up with even a younger toddler in the car seat. The little one got out of the car and motioned like she wanted to come shoot some hoops too. I guess it does not matter what type of basketball court you put in your driveway, the saying is still somewhat applicable, “If you build it, they will come.” Now, fortunate for me, the younger toddler was taken in the house.
I’m having a little “all worn out” déjà vu just telling you of my experience. Yet I cannot stop making this applicable to our responsibility as part of the universal church. We have a commandment, from a Person who was seen by others in His ministry on earth, but is until up to today, He is unseen physically in our lifetime, unless the rapture occurs before you get to read this meditation. The commandment tells us to “Go ye therefore and make disciples…” Take it individually, just as the one character in the movie. Don’t look at it as it from a corporate exercise expectation, because of you do you might excuse your individual kingdom building responsibility. “If YOU build it, they will come.” If YOU help build your local church and, you do it with vigor, veracity, and a victorious demeanor, others will come. Won’t that be a sight to see? Don’t you think God will be pleased when He sees the streets lined up with cars on their way to His house?
We need to get busy! The pandemic seems to have put a pause on pertinent task of building the church in many places. Don’t let that happen in your place of worship. Render the pause button out of order. Keep winning others for Christ! Keep pursuing the lost coins, the lost sheep, and the lost sons and daughters. You know, if we do it and do it right; if we build our church on Christ the solid rock; if we stay away from gimmicks and get in line with God’s doctrines, people will come. “If you build it, they will come.” Peter shows you it will work below! Think about this, sincerely now, while you go through your day. Be blessed!
“Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.” He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!” That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.” (Acts 4:38-39 &41-42 MSG)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King