Through many generations people have heard and followed the call of God. Those who have followed the Lord’s call have become co-workers with Christ in building the most unique and magnificent structure that has ever been known in the creation of God. For this building to materialise it was not enough to just speak a word of creation as God had done it so often before. This time Christ, the son of God had to come into this world, he had to become flesh and blood like us. Sent by the Father, Christ became flesh and became known to us as Jesus, the son of God born of the virgin Mary.
The purpose of the coming of Jesus was to build the very structure that he called the ecclesia (Church). Jesus said to His disciples: I will build my ecclesia and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matthew 16:28). What is the ecclesia which today we call the Church? The ecclesia are people coming out of darkness (the quarry of this world), who are broken loose of the slavery of sin and who are becoming the precious living stones in the light of God, out of whom God is building His ecclesia. While we may be meeting in houses of prayer which we call the Church, the ecclesia is not a physical building. It is the most glorious building ever known to man and God.

For this ecclesia to materialise, Jesus had to sacrifice His own life, His relationship with His beloved Father and become the object of sin and judgment. The one who was without sin agreed to carry the sin of all mankind so that all mankind could have the opportunity to come back to our loving Father. The invitation is still going out into all the world: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest!” (Matthews 11:28).Those who follow this call are not just able to come into the light of God, but they will be transformed into precious, shining stones, full of life and full of God’s grace. The apostle John had the privilege to see into the future and describe the structure to us, called the New Jerusalem (see Revelation 21).This is the city that Abraham was looking forward to by faith: For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10)

This is the only structure built on earth that will remain in eternity. All other structures will vanish. This is the reason why we should follow the call of God and become co-workers with Christ in building this amazing city of God. To begin with, we are ourselves to be stones in this city, but we should also help others to become part of God’s wonderful building. It is a privilege to be part of God’s construction of the city that will last for eternities. All of us are called to join hands in this most amazing project the world will ever see. Many have gone before us who were part of God’s construction team. Today it is our turn. When our time is up, there will be others who will continue with the work under the supervision of Christ. Yet no one who lives by faith will lose out.Hebrews 11:39-40 tell us:  “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
We are all on a journey. Those who have run their race eagerly await our arrival so that together we can witness the unveiling of the city of God.  Why don’t you start to imagine the glory and the lavish celebration that we will have in the very presence of our loving God!
In anticipation and excitement I remain,

Helmut Reutter