“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”    Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)

Our church’s location certainly has changed quite a bit over the years! Looking at Google Street View, one can select various times over the years when the area has been photographed and a montage made to show us the views up and down Stringybark Road and Toral Drive. Back in 2008, when the first photos were made, the units across and around the church building are nowhere to be seen. Just tall trees, and plenty of them. Then, over time, land clearing and construction has taken place all around. It still is taking place, with new townhouses popping up on Stringybark Rd.

Photo by Christopher Burns on Unsplash

When those townhouses were still pretty much just concrete slab and a few studs, it was hard to figure out what they were to be. One could, though, go on the project’s website and see what the finished product is supposed to look like when completed.

It is that way with the Church – not our physical building, but the spiritual edifice our Lord Jesus is building by His Holy Spirit. And, as a part of His Church, the Lord is doing that with our congregation.

The building will one day be a beautiful building. It will be absolutely gorgeous.

You don’t always see what God is doing in building His Church, because what we’re looking at right now is, as it were, the scaffolding.  Buildings under construction aren’t pretty. There’s a lot of mess, lots of studs and wiring and piping and dust and dirt and, just mess. The building will one day be a beautiful building. It will be absolutely gorgeous. Right now, it looks unsightly, but one day, because the Builder has taken the time to do what needs to be done, to do it right, it’s going to be a handsome building, a wonderful, glorious place. And that’s what we see when we look out at the visible Church – the assemblage of those professing Christ and their children. We’re a work in progress; all we’re seeing is the construction ground. But the day is coming when it will all “come together.”

What you see right now of the Church, is, as it were, the scaffolding.  It’s a workplace right now, and one day, God is going to bring down that scaffolding and He’s going to say ‘This is what I have been building from eternity to be the bride of My Son, and she is altogether glorious.’

You don’t always see all that God is doing. But know this: He’s doing!