Together We Have Strength
A friend of mine was relating to me that during World War II a squadron of B-17s was nearly indivisible while flying bombing raids over enemy targets. He mentioned that the enemy fighter planes were in the air constantly but would not attack thesquadron because of its firepower.
Only when a plane in the squadron became disabled in any manner and fell out of the formation did it become vulnerable to the opposing planes. Together the squadron of B-17s protected each other. But when one aircraft lagged behind, it was usually destroyed immediately.
There is somewhat an analogy contained in this illustration. When Christians have the moral support of one another, it is very difficult for a member to be lost to Satan. However, the Christian who falls behind through indifference and negligence soon becomes an easy prey for the devil who “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8).
Our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom, knowing that man was a social being, provided in His scheme of redemption the bringing together of His people in public worship. This is clearly set forth in Hebrews 10:24,25: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more as ye see the day drawing nigh.” In the light of this context, that we are to consider one another and to provoke one another, the exhortation is given to not forsake the assemblies of the saints.
Other than the adoration given to God, the next important reason given for the assemblies is to exhort one another. It is encouraging and strengthening to the Christian when one is faithful in attendance to the various gatherings of the local congregation. It is very unlikely that one would ever become unfaithful to God if he were faithful in his attendance to these assemblies. It isn’t that he couldn’t. It is just that he will not want to leave his Lord and His body, the church.
But one of the first signs of a brother or sister becoming unfaithful is the slow but steady decline in the attendance of the various periods of Bible study and worship. When a Christian “falls out of the formation” and begins to “lag behind”, separating himself from the other members, you can just about know that he is going to be “shot down” by the “fiery darts of the evilone” (Ephesians 6:16).
While assembling to worship God is not the sum total of Christianity, it is an essential ingredient in the Christian’s harmonious relationship with his Savior.
Article submitted Sunday, October 02, 2011 & read 132 times.
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