Gospel

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I knew what man believed The Church to be; I needed to know what God intended it to be. In response to my pondering came ...

Get Me To The Church
by Jody R Goode
11/23/96

At the new dawn's light I am to wed,
but I know not where to find The Church.

My Bridegroom is the One of my dreams -
will He stay until I reach The Church
where He awaits with arms outstretched?

I have long been searching for The Church,
but it is not to be found in the buildings I have been.
Yes, the signs on the doors say "Church"
but when I enter I find no life -
the Life The Church promises me to give.

The Church as I understand it is made of people,
but the people I have seen are so very busy doing...what?
I am not sure they know what,
and they do not notice I am there.

I am looking for my Bridegroom
and as yet I have not found Him, so I press on ...

I continue to pass many crumbling buildings,
all whitewashed and patched to cover up their decay.

I have no time to waste;
I must find my Bridegroom;
I must find The Church.

On the path which I now travel, I spot a gate
- a very narrow gate.
On the other side there are many smooth stones
assembled so securely forming a solid structure,
not yet complete, built upon its foundation -
a perfectly mastered cornerstone.
This cornerstone, one so unique,
I cannot remember seeing anything like it
strengthening the walls
of the buildings I had previously seen.

Could this be The Church I am seeking?
Is my Bridegroom waiting for me beyond its door?
How can I get through this very narrow gate?

The only way through this gate, I found,
was to strip myself of everything -
to leave all I had behind.
I did not think twice for I had found that which I was seeking,
The Church, my Bridegroom,
Life and Love everlasting.

Through the gate and through the door I ran
into the waiting arms of my Bridegroom.
He had waited just as I had hoped and I now know
He would have waited as long as it took for me to find Him,
for He knew I was looking.
That is just the kind of Love He has for His Bride.

In all the excitement I had not realized
that when I passed through the gate
and then through the door
I had crawled inside my own heart.

Now I understand …
The Church is not made of people,
but of the hearts of people seeking the Bridegroom.

The new dawn is rising -
I found The Church and I found my Bridegroom.
I hear the wedding bells chime …
so let the celebration begin !!!

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NAS

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