In the kindness of our God, we recently moved into a more spacious house. Though the experience had its annoying and stressful elements, one positive overwhelmingly stands out: the many friends that the Lord used to move us out of our former home and into our new domicile. From far and near many people performed a variety of laborious tasks without complaint and without any hope of recompense on this earth (happily, the Lord will handle the remuneration at a later date, Mat. 10:40-42.) Other Christian brothers and sisters could not attend, but supported us in prayer – a contribution to the safety and efficiency of these proceedings that cannot be undervalued. Watching our numerous friends joyfully work together reminded me of the everyday functioning of the Church, which the New Testament describes as “the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 4:12.) Moving from one house to another is an excellent illustration of what believers are doing in this life as we await the coming of the Lord Jesus.
Body Life
“The Church as a body” metaphor effectively conveys the interdependence of Christians upon Christ their life-source as well as their close connection with fellow members of the body. According to Ephesians 4:15 Christ is the head: He provides life and direction for the body. The next verse captures the thought of this symbolism: “From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (v. 16.) The Head empowers every part of the body for growth. As part of this organic development He uses the different parts of the body to serve itself through mutual service. As the various gifts operate they build the body up until it grows into a new man in Christ (v. 13.)
Self-Service In A Thousand Acts Of Kindness
Returning to our move, some body members displayed their gift of hospitality by providing us with food. Others demonstrated “giving” by sharing funds with us. Others administrated by directing the loading and unloading of the trucks. Still others cleaned, babysat, loaded/unloaded boxes, and carried extremely heavy objects. In total, all of the work was done through the agency of many individual parts harmoniously working together to complete the task. Not one of these members gets complete glory for this move – that honor belongs to the Head, who directs the parts. Nonetheless, each member will receive a full reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 4:5.)
Onwards Towards Our Final Move
As believers travel to their promised abodes in the Father’s house, it is comforting to know that the Lord ministers to each of them through the Body of Christ (Jn. 14:1-3.) Peter was told that he would fall, but his fall would not be irrevocable, and in the its aftermath he would exercise a pastoral ministry of succor to many suffering saints (Lk. 22:31-32; also read 1 Peter to see his shepherding of the scattered Christians.) Whatever changes we face here, our fellow-saints are there to help. By the Lord’s mercy, it will be so until our final move to glory