“Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”
(rf. Rom. 11:5 NKJV)
Being exposed to busyness as we are, we tend to overlook the many expressions around us that declare God’s greatness. From time to time, we are confronted with a phenomenal work of His that does grasp our attention long enough for us to pause to acknowledge His handiwork. Then we tend to move on to other things that we deem important.
This month we have a unique opportunity to take some designated time to stop and really focus on what God has been, is doing and really wants to do in the lives of His people, specifically here at St. John’s. We are entering into our official celebration of the Centennial anniversary of the founding of our church, giving God the glory for 100 years of the privilege of ministering to the people of Kannapolis. As we rejoice for God’s grace in keeping St. John’s here for a century of service, we must reflect on the reality of such a blessing.
The fact of the matter is, compared to the total number of churches that have been started or planted, few last so long. Some die by attrition. Others are closed or combined with sister churches purposefully by their respective denominations. In some locations, their hollowed shells dot the countryside. In other places, the only remembrance of their existence is a notation in a history book found in a long deserted corner of a library.
To further provide perspective, on our trips to Scotland over the years, my wife and I (and various mission groups) saw centuries-old cathedrals and churches with “for sale” signs adorning their yards and front doors. We witnessed the previous conversion of these once grand places of worship into art museums, personal homes, and, sickening to even state it, haunted houses. The largest two denominations in Scotland were shuttering churches at an alarming rate per year while we were there. Obviously, our prayers are needed for the people for Scotland that this trend should be reversed and, with a great spiritual renewal in their land, these places of worship would be required once more.
However, the joy we share is that God is very much still at work in the hearts and minds of the people of St. John’s. He has brought His people through much in the last 100 years. He has much more in store for us in the years to come. What we can learn from both the testimony of Scripture and from the experiences of those mentioned above is that nothing is guaranteed. We cannot afford to take anything for granted. As God’s people, we must ALWAYS continue forward, trusting in the power of His Spirit, following the truths of His Word, living out the principles of holiness as examples of Christ before the eyes of the world, not as displays of perfection, but as reflections of His grace. If we devote ourselves to His service, fully surrendered to His direction and His use, filled with His Spirit, He will continue to fulfill His will through us and keep our place here for generations to come. If we forsake Him and His truth, like so many other formerly vibrant fellowships before us, our church will become a relic of days gone by, eventually consigned to the pages of history, a mere afterthought of what might have been.
As we close one book of a century of service and open a new and exciting chapter, the pages before us have yet to be written. They are completely blank. How will we fill them? Are we open to whatever God desires of us as a church body to do and to be our best to reach the Kannapolis community and to glorify Him? Are we devoted to keeping in mind that St. John’s is Christ’s church and not our own to do with as He pleases? We must each ask these questions of ourselves. The answers will largely determine our future and how He chooses (or not) to use us for the century yet to come.
