The heart, not the building
“That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”(NIV) Joel 2:12
Today’s Christendom is at the crossroad where there is an excessive focus on the building that houses the Christian. In the process, the souls of the flock are left unattended by whom God has made overseers.
This is not to argue that there is no need to have auditoriums (and to be precise beautiful ones) where believers come and freely express their love for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Far be it from that if I made you think so. However, the key word here is “excessive”. Anytime things are overdone, other aspects of life suffer.
Christ died for his body (the church), of which you and I are members (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27). He never died for the church buildings we are putting up today. His focus has been on making our hearts better, so we will be without blemish before God the father (Ephesians 5:26-27, Philippians 2:14-16).
The word of God says “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts…” Our hearts matter a lot to God and whilst we are busy as Christians putting up auditoriums; the devil is busy pulling God’s people into his kingdom. He is inciting us as Christians to neglect the souls Christ died for; to thinking putting buildings are more important.
Today we have time, but tomorrow may not be for us. Let’s arise and care for the souls Christ died for by feeding them with God’s words in the form of admonishing, encouraging, supporting financially where needed, praying for and with them, etc.
This is the reason for which we have been called into God’s Kingdom. The days are evil! Hebrews 12:12 says’ “So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees”. Give me your heart says God (Joel 2:12). Let’s go to Him, who is able to keep us from falling (Jude 1:24-25) in these last days with fasting, weeping and mourning, so He will heal our sick hearts. The heart beloved matters a lot not the building!