One Sunday afternoon, I watched the
Periscope of a pastor I had never seen before. Every word of his
message was powerful and ministered to me greatly. It was just what I
needed, when I needed it. From time to time, the person who was
recording the scope panned the sanctuary. I noticed there were about
nine people sitting in the first two pews. But the three pews in the
back of the church were packed. And there were seven or eight rows of
empty pews between the front and the back. I got so distracted by
these empty pews that I decided it would be best to listen to the
sermon and not watch it.
The presence of God was truly in that
sanctuary. By the time the pastor was coming to the close of his
message, everyone was standing and praising the Lord. And people came
to the altar for prayer.
I dare not reason why the physical
distance in that particular congregation was so pronounced. But I
think about those "back of the church" seats I occupied
throughout my Christian walk. Here are a few reasons why I sat in the
back:
-- Before I accepted the Lord in my
life and couldn't say no to invitations from friends.
-- So I could tip out at will for other
appointments.
-- To be seen clocking in and out.
-- Whenever I yielded to sin, felt
guilty and/or unworthy to be in the house of God.
-- When I was bound with depression.
-- Mad at God for not fixing my stuff
on my schedule.
One time I sat so far in the back of
the church that my seat was in my car in the parking lot. But the day
came when I changed my mind about the need to occupy the back seat. I
was a new Christian dealing with an emotional challenge and had
skipped church for a few weeks. I was nursing and rehearsing that
episode with a lack of faith. Then when I felt some conviction and
decided to go to church, I sat on the last row, end seat. I figured I
could tip out after I felt I had fulfilled my Christian duty and due
diligence of "forsaking not the assembling with other
believers." But the presence of the Lord hung in the sanctuary
long after praise and worship. So much so that I can't even remember
the pastor's message. I experienced a constant, overwhelming joy and
all I could do was weep and thank God for touching my heart. I
couldn't wait until there was an altar call to seal the deliverance.
Now I will sit in the last pew, last
seat in the sanctuary if I HAVE to. But I like to sit as close to the
altar as possible. I pray that in the future, the people in that
Periscope, the members of that body of believers, will honor the
shepherd of the house by sitting closer as he delivers the Word of
the Lord to them. But I know that when the Spirit of the Lord is in
the house of God, He fills every inch of the room. God won't force
you to receive Him, or praise and worship Him. People can
purposefully sit in the back seat, last row, whatever, and put on a
spiritual haz-mat suit if they want to. But when you are willing to
receive from Him, He can touch and heal you of whatever, whenever and
wherever you are.
"For a day in thy courts is better
than a thousand.
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."
Psalm 84:10
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,
than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."
Psalm 84:10
