The destiny of the Church ?

Friday April 9, 2021

The destiny of the Church ?

I will build my Church. Matthew 16:18

While all the warning signs announcing the return of Christ have never ceased to appear for two thousand years, while before our eyes we see the fulfillment of the "sign" of the re-greening fig tree, which the Lord does. Church ? Does she know her destiny, and is she ready to enter it ?

Just as Noah worked for years to build the ark, Jesus, since His first coming into this world, has never stopped building His Church. The word of that day, addressed to Peter, continues to this day. Jesus builds his Church until it is complete. The day she is ready, that day, Jesus will come and get her so that she will always be with him (John 14.3). "We who are still alive will be caught up with them in clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The destiny of the Church is to be with the Lord forever. In a pictorial way, the Bible presents the Church as the bride of the Lord (Ephesians 5:23-32 ; 2 Corinthians 11.2 ; Revelation 19.7 ; 21.2 ; 21.9 ; 22.17).

But where is this Church ? Is she in a particular denomination of Christianity ?

We know it is not ; in fact it is dispersed among all denominations. Those who belong to this Church have something in common, which is neither their religious label nor their particular creed ; quite simply, they are in fellowship with Christ. They do not belong to a religious system, but, above all, they belong to Christ.

"Basically there are two Churches in all branches of Christianity. There are believers attached to Christ, and there are believers attached to rites."

Basically there are two Churches in all branches of Christianity. There are believers attached to Christ, and there are believers attached to rites. There are believers who love Christ and their neighbor, and there are believers who love themselves exclusively. There is a Church that serves God, and a Church that uses God. There are believers saying : "Bless us ; do us good", and believers saying : "Help me to bless others." There is the Church of those who belong to Christ, and there is the Church of those who appear to belong to him. Jesus clarified what was the distinctive sign of those who are truly his disciples : "This is how all will know that you are my disciples : if you have love for one another." (John 13.35)

Where are you located ? Are you reassured by the fact of wearing a religious label (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Evangelical), or by the certainty of being a disciple of Jesus ?

Advice for today

Changing the denomination is not essential, the only thing that is necessary is for you to say : "Jesus, forgiveness for my sins, come and live in me, I want to be your disciple." By following him, he will lead you to where your faith will be nourished in the truth.

Paul Calzada

Source (The Thought of the Day)