You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart- Jeremiah 29:13
Have you ever missed a connection because your flight was delayed? I think this is one of my biggest fears when traveling. You see I am a careful planner. I think and rethink everything. From packing to schedules to airport maps to seats, to connection times.
Recently my husband and I traveled to France and despite all my careful planning- we had flight delays. Thankfully they didn’t make us miss any connecting flights, but it was a bit unnerving when we arrived at our home airport and immediately faced a delay and an oversold flight. So, despite my best efforts in planning the trip and buying the tickets, most of my trip was out of my control. As we waited for the plane to arrive to our gate and the announcements were being made offering up to $900 to voluntarily give up the oversold seats, I wondered what would happen if no one gave up their seat? Who would get bumped? Us? But this was my long awaited trip to Paris! What if I missed my connection to fly to France?
Thankfully someone must have volunteered to leave on a later flight, for after a few hours waiting, we were boarded and spent an amazing time in France. Until it happened again on the return trip. Our flight was delayed by four hours and the communication was a bit delayed so that we received information on the delay after we arrived at the airport and it forced us to spend several hours playing a cat and mouse game looking for the correct gate and time of flight departure. And then we experienced the no announcements of the boarding beginning. I’m not sure if this is typical for European airports, but I have gotten accustomed to the constant announcements in US airports telling everyone of any updates, and most importantly, when boarding has started and which group should line up for boarding. If we hadn’t been paying attention we would have been waiting at the wrong gate and no one announced when the boarding had started. Once again , I wondered if some people would miss their flight and miss their connections.
We had to seek our flight and gate and boarding time our selves, much in the way that individuals seek God. God initiates this pursuit, but never forces the individual to comply. As the verse above written by the Prophet Jeremiah mentions, we are called to seek God with all our heart. God nudges us but we must be the one to ask questions, seeking Him and finding Him when we are diligent. He isn’t hiding, but He wants us to call out to Him.
I thought about this topic this week after overhearing a conversation between two people looking for a church to attend. And I realized it wasn’t that they weren’t finding any churches it was that they weren’t finding a place of connection with God. The churches they had visited seemed to all have a similar problem- they felt out of place with others in church and with the services, music, messages and pastors. They agreed that the churches seemed out of touch with people and remaind very dogmatic and ritualistic. And as I thought about it, I realized what they were seeking was a connection, and as I mentioned with both God and other believers. But, these churches had failed in providing a place for connection.
Much like my over sold and delayed flight as well as my flight with the lack of communication on how to board and what gate, these churches were overselling their product while forgetting to communicate the Gospel. They had the buildings- the plane- the pilot- the pastor- but the plane was outdated, not maintained, and the pilot not skilled and up to date with newer systems. Imagine if you will showing up to a flight only to find an old bi-plane at the gate, instead of a Boeing or Airbus jet.
Also, imagine a ritualistic service that followed procedures, but failed to tell its passengers that they were about to board the plane and take off, leaving many behind at the airport.
So, as it is up to the individual to seek connection with God in a relationship with Him through Jesus, apart from all the external trappings of musical styles, teaching styles, church buildings, my challenge this week is for the churches themselves. Are you providing a space to find God?Are you promoting seeking God with all your heart and are you communicating the Gospel- telling everyone how to be saved and enter a connected relationship with God. Or are you part of the missed connections? -God Bless, Nancy
Moving Forward 