I’m in the midst of writing a book concerning revival of the church in America. As I was pondering my thoughts, this acronym came to mind. It describes to me what, in part, the church really is on earth.
CHURCH is…
Christ’s Haven Until Return Happens!
Haven is described as a safe place, refuge, retreat, shelter, sanctuary. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and our haven of rest and security is within the church that he has created through the cross and the work of the Holy Spirit across the world.
I’m not just talking about the building where some people say “I go to church”. I’m talking about the everyday body of Christ in the marketplace across the earth. Brothers and sisters in Christ. Iron sharpening iron, sharing the gospel, teaching and discipling the next generation in truth, feeding the poor. It’s wonderful to have a place to go and have corporate worship. But it’s not an end all. The church is the active and living part of Christ’s body guided, empowered and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 10: 24,25 is so descriptive. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” The Day is when Christ returns. It just can’t happen one hour on a Sunday or even a couple more times during the week. It takes a total commitment in the safe haven of Christ to reach out in our neighborhoods, families, circles of influence, foreigners, supporting missionaries, being a missionary, and so much more.
Ask yourself this. When is the last time, if ever, you shared the gospel with another person? Who am I discipling and who have I discipled in my lifetime? Who is discipling you? What are your gifts and are you using them for the glory of God? The list is endless. The thief is at work to destroy the church, especially in America based on what I’m seeing. He comes to rob, kill and steal, but Christ has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
Christ has promised that he is going to return and bring the Church into the kingdom in him once and for all. The timing is in God‘s hands. But until then the body of Christ, the CHURCH, is God’s provision for the haven that we all need every day, actually, every moment. He’s given us the word, prayer, fellowship, gifts, the Spirit, whatever we need. You are secure in him. You cannot fail. We all want to hear him say to us, “Well done”!
So, CHURCH, let’s get up out of our pew and get after it. I’m ‘all in’, are you?