As we study some of the Biblical principle behind the hymn, Blessed Assurance, let’s look at the second verse of that song:
Perfect communion, perfect delight,
Now, if we’ve been in the church for a while, we might think about communion as the Lord’s Supper (or “Eucharist”, depending on your tradition). And, that’s OK: “communion” is a good name for the Lord’s Supper, but it’s a description, rather than a special word that only refers to this particular practice (or “sacrament”, as some describe it). When we take the Lord’s Supper, we have a chance to commune with God. I don’t think of this like a mystical ceremony, as much as a chance to really be close to God and be personal with Him.
To further understand this concept of communion, we might think about words like community, where a group of people bands together in a way that’s more than just living in the same neighborhood. Similarly, we might think of words like communication, which is more than just people talking; it’s two people actually sharing with each other and listening to what the other person is saying.
That closeness is sort of like what we can find with God when we take communion, but our personal relationship with Jesus Christ isn’t limited to an event that we participate in at certain times. That connection with God is something to be enjoyed, engaged in, and expanded throughout our daily life.
Maybe another word that we could use is “participation”. When you watch a sporting event, you’re a spectator, but when you are actually out on the field playing the game, you are a participant. Let’s take a look at a passage from 1 Corinthians 10:
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 NIV
We can participate in the body of Christ, whether sharing in His sufferings or (as I think that this passage is talking about) being part of the church. And, we aren’t just “OK” with being restored into a relationship with our Creator and God. We should be delighted! (See Psalm 37:3-4 and Psalm 35:9.)
visions of rapture now burst on my sight.
To be clear, we’re talking about “rapture” here, and not a “raptor” (which, according to Hollywood, is a little dinosaur that will try to eat you).
Now, we might think of the rapture as an event in history when Jesus brings His people to be with Himself. (Authors like Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, who wrote the Left Behind series, have one idea of what the rapture will be like, and there are others, but this isn’t a lesson about the end times.)
Regardless of when and how Jesus takes each of us home, I don’t think that there is any more exciting event that Christians can look forward to than getting to be with Jesus for eternity. So, no matter how you interpret the book of Revelation, looking forward to that moment when we meet Jesus face to face is something to think about with excitement and anticipation.
For some words to encourage each other with, let’s read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Now, we need to be careful when we talk about angels, since there can be a tendency to elevate them to a higher place than they are. Let’s start with some facts that I hope we can agree upon:
- Angels are real.
- Angels are God’s messengers.
- Angels are not God, and should not be worshiped as gods.
- At least one angel thought that he should be worshiped, and he was cast out (see Luke 10:18, Revelation 12:7-9, possibly Isaiah 14:12-15).
However, when we think about the angels that appeared to shepherds at Jesus’ birth (see Luke 2:8-14), as well as the angels that brought good news to other people in the Bible, it’s not a stretch to think about them bringing us words of God’s mercy and love.
And, if we consider the term “angel” as a “messenger” in a more general sense, there are many messengers of God’s mercy and love, hopefully including us as we tell other people about the good news of Jesus Christ.
So, I hope that you can find communion – a close relationship – with God today, looking forward to the day when we begin to spend eternity with Him in a new heaven and a new earth. In the meantime, listen for God’s messengers who bring word of His mercy and love!
From Sunday School lesson prepared for September 10, 2023
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
Those Who Sin Differently 