By: Carl Ellis On 10/31/2011
Topics: Small-Membership Churches
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God. 2 Corinthians 4:7
When I look at myself in the mirror and see the blemishes, when I bow for prayer at the end of the day and confess my faults, when I am haunted by my past blunders, I wonder, “Am I really made in the image of God?” I am unable to fathom Paul’s words, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels.” Can God really make our earthen vessel, i.e., our bodies, minds and souls a treasure?
When I hear the struggles of churches, when I see the pain of pastor and congregation alike, when I pass children who have not heard the Gospel of Christ, I wonder, “Can the Church really be the vehicle that can bring people to Christ? Can the building with the worn carpet, antiquated bathroom, and leaky roof be the hope of Christ to the world?”
Those are questions that many of us ponder. For me, God answers, “Yes you are created in my image and yes the church is my (God’s) treasure.” Being God’s treasure and vehicle to bring others to Christ is not determined by perfection but rather by faithfulness. I attended a worship service that was not so perfect. The choir missed a few notes, and the sermon was a little rough. But my soul was revived. In those moments as the choir sang, I could see through their expressions the love and compassion of Christ. Through the pastor’s message and his occasional eye contact, I realized that God cares for me. That Sunday, I had been to worship and once again discovered God’s grace and love.
With God’s help, we are a treasure. Unfortunately, we who worship in the small membership church often forget we are the image of God, and more importantly, a treasure of God to be shared with our communities. The treasure is not created by using make-up, wearing designer clothes or going to the gym and developing perfect abs. The treasure is created when God comes into our lives and the lives of those around us. The image is created when we have the eyes of Jesus and see the image of Christ both in ourselves and all those we meet.
We have this treasure, and we are the image of God. Isn’t it time we give thanks to God for creating us and making us a treasure? And isn’t it time we live as the image of God and see the image of God in ourselves and those we meet? And isn’t time we celebrate and share the hope of God to all those we meet?
Yes, may we who live in small towns and communities and worship in small membership churches, remember we are made in God’s image and with the help of Jesus Christ we are a treasure to our families, relatives, acquaintances, and neighbors!