“It is still called ‘Today.’”
Not to spread false hope, but I hear that Kiwis may be able to worship together again soon. Praise the Lord! We still will be restricted in numbers, and to non-contact greetings—waves, nods and smiles—however, being together will be a great reunion with lots of good and godly words spoken. The apostle John wrote, when concluding his short letter to a good sister: “I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete” (2 John 12). Whether it is pen and ink or even the best of our modern communications, there is nothing better than being face-to-face with your brethren. That is a place of complete joy. Like-minded souls getting together to share ‘their’ faith while worshiping ‘their’ God. I pray that you are taking advantage of this time. It’s not ideal, but it is full of opportunities. I had to smile when an old friend of mine phoned me up today to ‘check on me.’ Why I thought it strange, I don’t know. I’ve been doing it daily with Morningsiders for weeks, so why did it surprise me?
It may have something to do with the reality that, as much as we would like to think that everything will be back to normal in a few weeks, a lot has changed. When one person goes on a long holiday, that person returns to an environment where they have to adjust back to the normal that has been going on in their absence. Well, guess what, all of us have been on an extended ‘holiday.’ What ‘normal’ is waiting for us to adjust back to? That question is better dealt with today, I believe. Even if we have all been ‘In the Word’ and ‘In prayer,’ we have been ‘Out of face-to-face Fellowship.’ When the time comes (soon, I pray), some of our number will need our special attention. It will pay to be ready—start today! “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).
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