Don Chapman writes:
“Recently I visited a church where I had to jump over a few unnecessary hurdles before I finally took my seat in their worship service. There was no sign out front. I drove to the church’s location and was surprised not to see a sign. Was I in the right place? I’ve probably driven by the church building 100 times, and since it’s in an old warehouse, I never knew it was a church! I suspected I was in the right place because of all the cars in the adjacent parking lot.
“Then as I parked my car I saw a sign on the side of the building facing a side road (but no sign BY the road.) Then we tried several doors and all of them were locked. We finally found an unlocked door on our fourth try! Then there were no greeters. I walked into the church and stood in the lobby, spinning around with a blank look on my face as I tried to figure out which door led to the sanctuary. It was like the old game show ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ where you pick one of three mystery doors. Nobody was around to help me find my way, no signs, nothing. A bunch of kids were entering door #1 so I guessed that wasn’t right… then I saw adults going in door #2 so I followed them down a hallway to the sanctuary entrance. After all this, I expected to enter a room with 10 people…To my complete shock I entered a large auditorium that was literally packed with about 500 people!”
And then he writes: “I felt like I was on a treasure hunt! You really have to want to go to this place since they put so many obstacles in your way.”
I agree with Mr. Chapman. Going to church is a challenge because we put so many obstacles in our own way. We want to sleep, we are tired, we have worked all week, we have to take time to get ready, we have to wear good clothes, we have to get everyone else ready, we have to find a place to park, and we have to find the car keys.
Then the devil puts many obstacles in our way also. He tells us that “it’s not that important.” “They don’t care about you at that church.” “You don’t have anything in common with those people at church.” “The preacher is boring.” “The service is too long.” And he goes on and on.
It’s a tough task, but only those who truly want to worship God will get there. You really have to want to be at church to get there. You must really want this treasure to get there.
And what a treasure church is! The church is the only institution established by God, the only place where we are told to gather by God. It is the only place God promised to bless us even if two or three are there. The church is the only place where a group of people glorify Jesus Christ. It has now become the only place where we can gather to hear the Bible read. The church is the only place now where people can go and hear someone pray in Jesus’ name. It is now the only place where we can call sin what God calls it and get away with it. What a treasure church is!
How long before this great treasure is taken away from us? You think it can’t happen? Many countries in the world have outlawed Christian public gatherings today.
This Sunday think about church as a treasure hunt. How much is the treasure worth? A hundred years from now you will have already found out!
Watch sermons and read sermon texts and other articles by going to www.tomahawkmbc.com. Listen to Pastor Jack’s sermons on WSIP FM 98.9 every Sunday at 10:30 Am. Watch his sermons on his Facebook page. Find him on Rumble, Bitchute and Brighteon video platforms.