31st March 2025

I was thinking about how communication has changed just during my lifetime. As a child I do not remember having a phone at all in our home, but we must have had one. I do not remember myself or anyone else spending a lot of time on the phone, but we did have a lot of time with each other face-to-face. Now, I suppose, you can have a video call with someone, but it is not really the same thing. We mostly communicate over the phone now, by text or email. People post pictures of themselves doing exciting things, but how much of this is real and not doctored to look better. I have never been a fan of the phone, but would rather text because it gives me time to think about what to say and how to say it so that I will not be misunderstood; but texting loses the facial expressions that can tell us a lot about what a person is really thinking; there is still nothing as good as talking face-to-face.

I mourn the fact that there is not a GCI congregation near me now. My contacts are made long distance by email, or by watching a visual sermon online. I miss the personal contact I had, even if it was just once a week. Hebrews 10:25 (NLT) reminds us: ‘And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.’ There is something very special and healing just getting a smile or a hug from someone you are close to. How special it must have been for the apostles to be able to see the face of Jesus, to hear his voice, and to touch him.

Though communication has changed over the years, there are still benefits as well as deficits concerning it. When our congregation shrank to the size that caused the doors to close, there was still the ability to contact the other GCI churches and other believers in a new way; a way that was not available before, and in a way that I would not have pursued. I was able to visit churches online all over the nation; to meet new contacts, not face-to-face, but still so very real and precious.

The apostles were able to see the Lord Jesus personally, but we as well have an open door to God; one that has changed over the years, but is still so very real and personal. We have God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit. It is this way that keeps us close, not only to God, but also to one another. Yes, for the moment we cannot see Jesus’ face, but he is always with us. That day will come when we will see Jesus in a new and personal way, but until that day, he abides with us and in us by the spirit. 

Local congregation:
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