(Hebrews 12:1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Of course, we know that the church is not just the local assembly that faithfully gathers on the first day of the week. I originally thought that viewing the church in the local sense would be the way to undertake this study primarily in order to make a closer application to the church member. But there is great benefit to understanding the church in a greater sense; in that of the universal church. The church in a grander sense is the assembly of believers comprised from the beginning of the church in the days of our Lord Jesus all the way to the new Jerusalem where the bible declares (Revelation 21:24) And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it. So in that sense, the body of Christ, in which we are members, is much bigger and grander than the local assembly. This is not to diminish our responsibility to and esteem for the local assembly, but to enhance it and establish it to a greater degree.
When we worship God and serve Him, we are no doubt worshipping and laboring together with our brethren whom we love down at the local church. But I think it helpful to understand that we worship and labor along side Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and Silas. You may consider yourself a pinky in the body of Christ; but you’re laboring next to Apollos the ring finger. We have entered into the labors of other great men and women of God. (1 Corinthians 3:8-9) Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one… we are labourers together with God… In this sense, our responsibilities go much further than just our pastor and our brethren which are in the here and now; but they extend to the apostles, martyrs, all the faithful from yesteryear and tomorrow. We don’t want to let down our pastor and the men and women that have taught us and invested their life in us. But we owe also our faithfulness, dedication, and efforts to all those who have passed from the scene and those that will one day come unto the scene. How can we not water and care for what they have so faithfully tilled and planted. Likewise, how can we expect saints of tomorrow to plant in a garden that has not been tilled, or water that which has not been planted.
What an honor it is to belong to such a noble happy band of people. What a thought to worship and work in the midst of so great a cloud of witnesses. The distance we run today is just but a leg. The race we run is the race of the ages; and we’ll all cross the finish line together at (Revelation 21:1) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away. The word church is a word that has been used across all ages. It means called out assembly. We did not invent this word nor do we particularly claim exclusiveness to it. Anybody can use that word, I suppose. But to what we belong is his church. Jesus said (Matthew 16:18) I will build my church. And Christ’s church is not bound by time, tongues, or temples in every respect. In this sense, Paul’s prayer for the church has more distinct meaning:
(Ephesians 3:14-19) For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Notice how he refers to the whole family in heaven and earth. He desires our comprehension of God’s love be with all saints. And notice the limitless scope of Paul’s prayer: throughout all ages, world without end. As I mentioned earlier, I’m not trying to diminish our esteem for the local church, but rather I’m trying to add to it by giving us a true sense of our calling into the church. For God (Ephesians 2:6) Hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We stand together and we run this race together. When we understand and value our part of the greater work, we do better. Nobody wants to be the weak link. I’ve seen it on the job. When there is an overall goal that needs be met and everybody is on board, each department of the company strives to do it’s part to meet the goal. I’ve seen it at the camp. One will strive harder when he or she embraces the greater vision of the work at the camp: the souls that will be saved, the preachers that will be encouraged, and the saints that will be revived. In other words, you’ll wash dishes and scrub toilets with joy and love because you know that it’s part of a greater work. But even the greater work is but a part of the greatest work; the greatest race. So run well my friends.