When The Curtain Goes Up

It has always amazed and sometime surprised me the lengths to which people
will go to attend a musical, theater show, opera, sporting event, etc. I
mean people sometimes plan months in advance to attend some event and think
nothing of driving 100 miles or more, leaving early to assure they get the
best seat. When the curtain goes up they want to be there, when the coin
toss is made, to decide who gets the advantage, they want to be there. I
understand the enthusiasm people have for sports and entertainment, what I
really don't understand is why the same enthusiasm doesn't apply to God and
his church.

This week I ran across an old church bulletin I had produced 33 years ago
while working with the Piqua, Ohio Church of Christ. It was interesting to
be reminded of some of the people mentioned and events that happened. Even
though it was nice reminiscing, there was one line in that bulletin that
struck a cord in me. It basically said, "Whether you attend services doesn't
depend upon how far you live from the church building, but how close you
live to God!"

Isn't that true of almost anything we desire to do in life? It is true that
we can say, Whether you attend services doesn't depend upon how far you live
from the church building, but how close you live to God. But couldn't we
just as easily say, "Whether you attend services doesn't depend upon how
tired you are, but whether you gain strength joined with brothers and
sisters the presence of God." Or perhaps, "Whether you attend services
doesn't depend upon whether or not friends stop by, but whether you show
them by your example, what is really important in your life."

I'm sure you could add to this list, but I would suggest to you that our
time with God's church is just as important as anything else in our lives. I
know how hard it sometimes is to make the right choice, but when you weigh
what the world offers against what God offers, there is no comparison. God
doesn't offer free game balls or autographed pictures; He offers us a place
to live with him forever!

Several scriptures jump to the front of my thoughts, but here's one that may
apply more than we would like to admit sometimes. The writer of Hebrews
deals with the choices we sometimes make, as to where we choose to be. In
Hebrews 10:24-25, he writes: "Let us think of ways to motivate one another
to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together,
as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of
his return is drawing near." (NLT)

So, when the curtain goes up, where will you be found?

Russ Lawson