The Church is More than a Building

On Wednesday morning I drove by the old Methodist church in Grass Valley and was struck by its winter splendor. The noises of this church and its regular services have been silent for seventy years, and though it is an extremely popular photo stop the reality is that one day this building will pass away.

I wish this could only be said of the structures, but it’s true of the people to. Some pass into eternity and the fullness of joy in the presence of our Lord. Others go away through moving, church migration, and even sadly because they simply walk away.

But the church is more than a building. The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:19-22, “…you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” (NASB)

The church is the body of Christ, and Jesus is its corner stone. He is the One on whom it is built and who frames up its very structure. God sovereignly worked through the prophets and apostles to lay its foundation, and He continues to work through those He calls to Himself through salvation by trusting in His Son to be its very building blocks in which His Spirit dwells and actively works. Then one day we are promised that the fullness of His church will be presented to His Son (Jesus) as His perfect bride.

These old buildings will pass away. Our bodies age and so do we. But one thing we are assured of is that Christ’s church won’t. Don’t forsake the building, but more than that seek Him and enjoy His people.

Posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on January 18, 2019