Some Assembly Required…Batteries Not Included

“But you dear friends, must continue to build your most holy faith for your own benefit. Furthermore, continue to pray in the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:2

It would be nice if salvation was an instantaneous fix-all-broken-parts, learn  everything needed to advance-to-the-head-of-the-class event. In a moment of time we’d be completely whole spirit, soul and body; possess all wisdom and knowledge and flawlessly execute any task. If this were the case, Jude would never have needed to pen his admonition to us. However, he did, so it behooves us to take heed.

Jude wrote that building one’s faith is mandatory, not optional. The ongoing process means “some assembly required” occurs regularly. We are in a constant state of change, improving or regressing, never static, based on our actions. Paul addressed this issue in 1 Cor. 3:10. As new believers, our foundations are established with the help of more mature and experienced brothers and sisters in Christ. We are responsible for building the “structure” of our life. Paul warns,“each should build with care.” The quality of our workmanship will be tested. What makes the cut brings reward, what fails will result in loss.

Part of the growth process is our responsibility alone. However, God’s system provides participation and help of others. “…and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints (emphasis mine) to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Eph. 3:17b-18 Paul sees the total comprehension of Christ’s love as a group effort, not a “Lone Ranger” expedition.

God, as Master Builder, has an interesting challenge on His hands. He is building His church with people who are in a constant state of flux, giving new meaning to the term fluid dynamics. Erecting a permanent structure with materials that are constantly changing on an individual basis sounds like “some assembly required” is the rule and not the exception.

Heb. 10:25 hammers home this point. We are instructed to not “forsake our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.” All the parts need to be in place for the whole to function as designed. God wants the church to act as a cohesive unit. Some consider church attendance irrelevant and unnecessary. Others, having been hurt, walked away. Whatever the reason, these missing parts hinder the body as a whole from fulfilling God’s plans. Teacher and prophetess Joni Ames summed this up clearly. “NO church is perfect! If you know how to ‘do it right’, then by golly, get in there and show the rest of us how it should be done!” Our “mission” should we choose to accept it, requires interaction with other believers. It is time for us to find our place and get involved.

If left to our own talents and resources, individually and corporately, we would be sunk. We cannot walk out our daily faith walk and accomplish God’s destiny using our own strength. Natural ability will not produce supernatural results. Not to fear, although “batteries are not included” God has a solution. “You will receive power when the Holy Ghost comes on you, and you will be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8 God supplies the power to get the job done. Rom. 8:11 tells us the Spirit will “give life to our mortal bodies.” We have access to all the heavenly high octane we need to get the job done.

So, what are we waiting for? God to “wave His magic wand” making everything right?  Probably. If that is the case, why would He build the church? Christ’s death and resurrection returned dominion of the earth originally given to Adam back into the hands of its rightful owners-us. God’s original intention that we, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.” Gen. 1:28 NLT still stands. Looks like “some assembly required” is part of our job description. To accomplish this goal, we need to work as a team, even as we individually continue our own growth process. It can get messy and confusing sometimes, requiring flexibility on our part. With the “battery” power of Holy Spirit, we can motor through the obstacles and challenges and complete the task.