Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more as you see the day approaching.
The above passage gives us pertinent instruction for the time in which we live, for there is no doubt that we are seeing the time of Christ’s second coming approaching, and if we are to follow the guidance we are given, we should be attending church more now, not less.
It is true that the virus has taken a toll on church attendance, for even Sunday mega churches have seen their congregations severely dwindled, and it seems as if some people have become disillusioned with in-person church attendance.
Now, although zoom and other streaming platforms have played an important role in making our online services available for a while, yet it’s not God’s ideal will that we should make such an arrangement our permanent mainstay. That is because nothing can ever replace the one on one fellowship that coming together in person brings.
Persons can smile and sing and talk online, but we cannot hug or shake hands virtually. We can have communion service virtually, but we cannot wash one another’s feet online. And then you have the in person discussions of the lessons, where members could voice their comments and concerns.
The virtual platforms simply do not have the same organic feel as studying in person, and while it is true that we will have to mitigate the risks that do exist, yet, at some point in time, our first opening passage would have to be revisited, because it does specify the assembling of ourselves together.
However, before we get into our topic, it would be necessary to see the before and after effects of the pandemic and how it has affected and still does, the way in which we live our lives, the adjustments that were made, and the ongoing metamorphosis in the spiritual and physical realms.
With the onset of Covid in the latter part of 2019, several changes to life as we know it took place and continue to evolve. Back then we had studied that it would take the lives of millions of people across the world, and that it would spawn several brethren, or variants, which would continue to put severe strain on our healthcare systems.
The final death toll would be found astronomically higher than what is being reported since third world countries, and places like India, North Korea and the other areas across the globe may not have access to the resources and know-how that we have, in order to tally the numbers correctly.
For instance, during the height of the pandemic, it is a well-documented fact that thousands of people were dumped in the Ganges River, and there were mass graves dug across multiple countries as heads of governments, and citizens alike, had struggled to mitigate the adverse fallout from the virus.
The bad news is that we are not out of the woods yet, for there are yet other variants on the horizon, waiting for the opportune moment to strike, and it may be that persons would be facing the prospect of having to take multiple boosters every four to six months, in order to shore up compromised immune systems.
Therefore, persons will of necessity have to adopt new strategies, or modify existing ones, if we are to have some semblance of normalcy. The following therefore are just some of the changes that we will have to endure for the foreseeable future, as Covid and his brethren continue to wreak havoc across the globe.
[1] Mass migration as well as internal and international displacement of peoples.
As work from home became a real and viable option many prominent companies found it to be practical for workers to work from where they lived, because not only does it save gas and valuable time, it would avoid the stress of driving in traffic jams while at the same time it will curb in-office spread of the virus.
In fact, in many cases it has been discovered that a worker’s productivity goes up noticeably when he or she is allowed to work from home. In addition,
companies have discovered that the cost of having offices, and all that it entails is not worth the effort in some cases, and therefore, some have decided to make the work at home arrangement permanent.
As a direct result, persons who had previously lived in high-priced cities, have got new-found freedom, in that they could now move to cheaper places with more land, more living space and a much lower cost of living, than where they had previously resided.
But this facility has become a self-fulfilling prophecy in that the many individuals, and families that move from the larger cities are driving up the prices of the homes in more rural areas, and as a result many of the residents of those suburbs are facing increased rents and skyrocketing home prices.
This trend will not only affect the secular folk, for it will continue to also affect the remnant. As a result, there is a very real prospect of a dwindling church membership, as more and more families and many persons would be priced out of their local markets, hence the reason why we stated that there will be a continuing displacement of peoples, both internally and internationally.
[2] One other adverse side effect of the pandemic is that there will be persistent supply-chain issues as different countries grapple with ways and means to stop, or at least to lessen the viral spread of the disease.
New home buyers would love for current prices of homes to go down, and builders would love to build as fast as they possibly can. But with the logjam of delayed deliveries, and with sea-bound containers having to wait for weeks to be unloaded, building materials cannot come fast enough, and thus, what we are seeing in delays and backlogs will continue for a long while.
[3] Another side effect of the current pandemic is that during its height, when we were forced into a lockdown some church members became disoriented, and this has triggered a regrouping and a reassessment of sorts.
One of the reasons for this adverse disorientation is that prior to the pandemic the relationship with the God of heaven was in some cases being propped up by a multitude of activities which really had nothing much to do with our personal time spent with Him.
There were concerts, potlucks, camping, socials, game-nights, and a host of other activities, which are really not bad in and of themselves, but in some cases, they were made to usurp the nuts and bolts of a quality relationship with God.
Thus, when these additions were suddenly removed and we found ourselves hedged in with bare bones, our relationship with God in many instances, lost its luster and with some folks, a feeling of emptiness, and a lack of belonging crept in and many have thus become quite despondent.
Therefore, sad as it may sound, we’re indeed facing the prospect that some persons might decide never to return to in person church services. But, because there is nothing new under the sun, we could take courage from one family that never stopped going to church, even at a time when things were looking pretty grim.
In the days of Eli and his sons, the children of Israel had become quite disoriented and discouraged, for they were facing, not a pandemic from a pathogen, but a virus of wickedness which had eaten out the fabric of church life, and people back then loathed to even go near the sanctuary.
The virus found its origins in the high priest’s family and it spread virulently across the land in so much that individuals and families began patterning their lives after what they beheld in their spiritual leader.
People usually do not rise higher than their spiritual leaders, and thus, what Eli permitted in his sons was duplicated in thousands of households. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 2: 13 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14 And he struck it into the pan, kettle, caldron or
pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desires; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.
1st Samuel 2: 22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 578>579] Eli did not manage his household according to God's rules for family government. He followed his own judgment. The fond father overlooked the faults and sins of his sons in their childhood, flattering himself that after a time they would outgrow their evil tendencies. Many are now making a similar mistake.
They think they know a better way of training their children than that which God has given in His word. They foster wrong tendencies in them, urging as an excuse, “They are too young to be punished. Wait till they become older, and can be reasoned with.” Thus, wrong habits are left to strengthen until they become second nature.
The children grow up without restraint, with traits of character that are a lifelong curse to them and are liable to be reproduced in others. There is no greater curse upon households than to allow the youth to have their own way.
When parents regard every wish of their children and indulge them in what they know is not for their good, the children soon lose all respect for their parents, all regard for the authority of God or man, and are led captive at the will of Satan.
Because of Eli's position, his influence was more extended than if he had been an ordinary man. His family life was imitated throughout Israel. The baleful results of his negligent, ease-loving ways were seen in thousands of homes that were molded by his example.
Thus, the inevitable ripple effect was that most of the people gradually stopped going to church, with the exception of this one man and his family, who decided to not forsake the assembly of God.
Even if the virus of wickedness by Eli’s sons, caused the majority to abandon the sanctuary services, yet, Elkanah and his household would still go. The pews would be empty, but they would still go, because God says to go.
Not forsaking the assembly of the saints isn’t merely a good suggestion coming from the word of God, it is an imperative designed to foster strength, faith, fortitude, courage, and unity, just as iron sharpens iron.
It is worthy of note, that it was at this time, when morale was very low and folks had virtually stopped attending church, that God did something great for those who still attended. Elkanah’s wife was barren at this time, but it was as she attended the church services that God opened up her womb.
We may never know what God will do for persons who, against all odds, continue to faithfully follow His instructions. In fact, blessings and deliverances are very often left on the table, when we stay away from the assembly of the saints, for there are things God only does in response to us obeying His word, against all odds. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 1: Now there was a certain man of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah.
3 And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
4 And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions.
5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.
6 And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.
7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore, she wept, and did not eat.
10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
In our day, there are a multitude of reasons why persons stop going to church, and to some folk such reasons might seem valid. There are those who may not like the music, there are others who, because of the virus, may view church attendance as being too great a risk, even though some of those persons can be found at Publix, where shopping is a pleasure.
A person is not put at any greater risk by coming to church, than by going to work in an office where the common use of fax machines, computers, toilets or printers in an enclosed environment, for prolonged periods of time, renders the spread of germs and viruses more likely.
And there are others, who because of the high gas prices may prefer or opt to do church online. We’re not here to judge anyone’s motive or decisions, but this we do know, that as the time of Christ’s second coming begins to loom large on the horizon, the oft rubbing of shoulders, and the regular in-person assembly of the saints would become even more important.
This is what took actually place when the early rain was poured out on the day of Pentecost, and since history often repeats itself, the same manifestation of unity and fellowship would again be seen among the ranks of the remnant people of God, for we will need the same strength of brotherhood, as in days of yore. Let’s read:
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
[Last Day Events pp 148] Let those who desire to be refreshed in mind and instructed in the truth study the history of the early church during and immediately following the Day of Pentecost. Study carefully in the book of Acts the experiences of Paul and the other apostles, for God's people in our day must pass through similar experiences.
Let us therefore zip up our boots and return as soon as possible to the assembly of the saints, because as everyone can plainly see the dawning of eternal day is not too distant, and therefore we would need the strength of the brotherhood to help stave off those incursions that would be coming from without, and within.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should encourage us to return to church in person, and we sincerely hope and pray that the assembling of ourselves together will finally cause zoom to play second fiddle. Let’s read:
Acts 2: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
God Bless!