Do You Have A Reliable Connection?
When we moved recently, we knew that a reliable internet connection was needed. With all the changes in our homes over the last 30 years, internet service is a necessary utility. Before we moved, I began to search for someone who was able to offer fiber internet. However, at the address we were living at, fiber was not available at the time of our move. The only available internet was satellite, which was not nearly as fast, and made our kids' homeschooling (among all other things) more difficult. I do realize that this is certainly the epitome of a "first-world problem," but it reminded me of something that I fear we at times miss in life, the value of a reliable connection. You never know how much a reliable connection matters until you have to rely on a spotty connection.
A Reliable Connection: Marriage and the Family
The Bible emphasizes our need to be continually connected to Christ and His people. God knew that we need to be connected with Him and with others. Jehovah's wisdom is seen in Eden as He observed that it was not good for Adam to be alone and thus He provided a helper suitable for him in Eve (cf. Gen 2:18-25). This was the beginning of the marriage covenant, where man and woman became one flesh. The Lord established a nation from Abraham, which would be composed of families (tribes) after the sons of Israel.
The families of this nation were all important and a part of a union greater than themselves. In times of unity, Israel was said to "gather as one man." This happened as they gathered to hear the Law of the Lord (cf. Nehemiah 8), and also to render the justice of the Lord on Benjamin (cf. Judges 20:8ff). Consider how this teaches us today. First, we recognize that it has always been God's intent for man to be a part of a family. A man and a woman enter into the marriage covenant and become one flesh (cf. Matthew 19:4-6). The objective given to our parents in the garden to replenish the earth remains (cf. Genesis 1:28). God's intent is marriage and families to replenish the earth, and to instruct children in righteousness. Fathers, mothers, and children need a reliable connection to each other. God wills us to be in fellowship together based not merely on our familial relation, but also our common faith.
A Reliable Connection: The Church
Our families, however, are not alone in this world. There is one institution that is necessary in this world for man to enjoy a reliable connection to God and His people. This institution is the church. The church is the place where the Lord puts the saved (cf. Acts 2:41;47). He bids us to assemble together on every first day of the week. Key in on the word, together. We must be together in one place (cf. Acts 14:27; 20:7; 1 Cor 11:17-18; 14:26; Heb 10:24-25). It is a great asset to stream our worship assemblies so the sick and shut-ins have the opportunity to study with us. However, not all of the acts of worship can be completed alone. It is impossible to teach and admonish one another by singing if one cannot hear the other. We must be together to fulfill what God requires of us.
Beyond the practicality of being in one place, there is an effectiveness aspect to be remembered. For the church to have an effective connection, we must endeavor to be together, yes, in worship on the Lord's Day, but also at various times throughout the rest of the week. We all have very busy schedules in life. We have family and work obligations. The only way that we will have a reliable connection with God's people is to be with God's people. We must take the time to call, text, and spend time with one another. We must look beyond just small groups that we hover to but look to build connections with all members of the congregation. No two relationships are alike, and we cannot expect to be as close with one brother or sister as another. We can, however, build deeper than surface relationships. We can learn about each other. We can encourage each other when each one needs encouragement. We can be interested in the well-being of each other's well-being. This requires each of us to be slightly uncomfortable, at least at first. This is how most relationships start: they are a little awkward. The good thing is that when we seek to build rapport with one another, we have a common Father, we are a family, and that makes it easy.
A Reliable Connection Helps Us All Get to Heaven, and Fulfill Our Mission as God’s Family
If you have siblings, you probably have a good knowledge of your brother or sister's likes and dislikes. You have the same family traditions that you grew up with. You lived under the same rules in the same household. When things were not right between the two of you, you were forced to make it right. One of the great benefits of our regular and reliable connection with one another is that we have more than a passing familiarity with each other. We are brethren; we laugh and cry together. So when one sins against another, we can lean on the fact that we have a true and tested, reliable connection. Thus, we can resolve it with the proper standard that God has set for church discipline (cf. Matthew 18:15-21). Our desire to maintain our unity and help each other get to heaven overrules any other human emotion.
There is no substitute for a reliable connection. As time progressed, I came back to the house, and there was a door hanger on the door stating that fiber internet was coming soon. A little later, fiber was available and installed. Immediately, we were able to study, stream, and play with a more reliable connection. Perhaps today you feel disconnected or loosely connected. You can decide now to really commit yourself to connecting with the body of Christ. There you can build on the reliable connection with God and His people. You'll be glad that you did.
Grace and Peace,
