OceanSide church of Christ

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IT’S JUST…

Victor M. Eskew

 

            The words, “It’s just,” are used to diminish the importance of something.  We are lying in bed and hear a noise downstairs.  We are terrified.  We creep down the stairs.  We look into the kitchen.  We see the storm door pounding the handrail outside.  In our minds we say:  “It’s just the storm door.”  In other words, it is not that big of a deal.  We say this on a regular basis.  “It’s just the dog.”  “It’s just the kids.”  “It’s just Uncle John on the phone.”  The words, “It’s just,” mean that something is not as important as other things might be.

            The words, “It’s just,” have also been applied by Christians to various things that go on in the church.  Let’s look at a few.  We are presently right in the middle of our Vacation Bible School.  Every Tuesday night we assemble for an hour and a half for this activity.  There are times when adults will excuse themselves from this work.  They will reason in their mind, saying:  “It’s just VBS.”  This statement is an attempt to diminish the importance of the work.  “It’s just VBS.”  It’s not that big of a deal.  It is not really that important.  Is that really the case?  During Vacation Bible School, the church is at work.  Is laboring in the kingdom something that is not really important?  During VBS, we study the word of God.  Is Bible study important?  During VBS, we are reaching out to the lost in an attempt to evangelize.  Is evangelism no big deal?  My friends, the words, “It’s just…” are Satan’s way of getting us to believe a lie.

            The words, “It’s just,” are also used on singing nights.  People will not attend that night.  If they are asked about their absence, they will say:  “Well, it was just singing night.”  Do you hear their attempt to diminish the importance of that night?  They really need to stop and think about what they are saying.  We are “just” praising God.  We are “just” teaching and admonishing one another.  We are “just” giving God glory and honor through one of His authorized avenues of worship.  That’s all we are “just” doing.  Aren’t those things extremely important?  Sure they are.  And, Satan rejoices when Christians miss, and say, “Well, it’s just singing night.”  He has convinced them that some of the most important things a Christian can do are not really that important.

            The words, “It’s just,” are also applied to Bible class at times.  The person does not attend Bible class, and tells himself:  “Well, it’s just Bible class.”  The Bible teaches us to study to show ourselves approved unto God. The Bible exhorts us to desire the sincere milk of the Word that we may grow thereby.  The Bible tells us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Elders have been instructed to feed the flock of God which is among them.  Bible study is one of those times the sheep feed on the Word.  But, some have come to believe:  “It’s just Bible class.”  The tempter could not be prouder.  He has convinced a child of God that hearing what the Father has to say is really not that important.

            The words, “It’s just,” are applied to many activities in which the church engages.  It’s just a work day.  It’s just a planning session.  It’s just a visitation team meeting.  It’s just a gospel meeting.  It’s just a door-knocking day.  It’s just a fellowship meal.  It’s just an extra Bible study.  It’s just….and on the list could go.  The devil has taken two little words and has completely diminished the importance of the work of the church with them.  As long as “It’s just,” then it really doesn’t matter if a person is involved or not.  Satan has caused us to believe that these things are not really that important to God Himself.  I mean, “It’s just…”

            When it comes to the work of the church, we should never apply the words, “It’s just,” to it.  The church for which Jesus died is the most important institution on the earth.  The work that it is called to do is the most important work in which a person can be engaged.  All other things pale in comparison to the mission that the church has been called to accomplish.  Easing our conscience with the words, “It’s just,” does not really diminish the importance of the thing to which it is applied.  It only diminishes its importance in our mind.  It deceives us.  It causes us to become slack in our service to God.  It causes us to fail to fulfill our role in the body of Christ. 

            Instead of using the word, “It’s just,” when we talk about the work of the church, we should use the words, “This is our.”  This is our Vacation Bible School.  This is our singing night.  This is our work day.  This is our Bible class hour.  The words, “This is our,” stress that we are part of what is going on.  The church is a body.  When there is a work to be accomplished, all of the body is needed to do it effectively.  This was what Paul taught the church in Corinth in the first century.  “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee:  nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary” (I Cor. 12:21-22).  He taught the same thing to the church at Ephesus.  “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:16).  Don’t let Satan fool you into thinking that “it’s just” not that important to fulfill you role in the body.  Dear reader, the body of Christ is important and all that it does it important.