Archived Notes

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The Gathering Place

©Chad Sychtysz

 

Generally speaking, people are social creatures who do not seek lengthy or permanent solitude. Since it was “not good” for Adam to be alone (Gen 2:18), God provided a companion for him. Since then, “family” has been the single most important component of any society. But Christians seek a fellowship beyond that of a physical family. Earthly relationships cannot replace fellowship with God and His people; to be with the redeemed in the presence of God is the ultimate expression of fellowship (Rev 7:9-10,15-17). There is nowhere else we would rather be than to be gathered together “in Christ” forever.

To be “gathered together to one’s fathers” is an old euphemism for death. But that expression also implies an otherworldly reunion with those who have already died. For example, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all were “gathered to their fathers” (Gen 25:8, 35:29, 49:33), but God spoke of them as being alive to Him (compare Exod 3:6 with Mt 22:32). There is a gathering “place” beyond this life in which those who have walked by faith on this earth are forever alive to God. Thus, we are not alone in death, and the end of our life does not have to be a thing to be feared, but something to anticipate.

Being “gathered together” is, in this sense, indeed a positive thing. But men have not always gathered together for good; many have conspired together against God. After the generations of Moses, Aaron, and Joshua, a “new generation arose” that gathered against God rather than with Him (Judg 2:10). Such defiance dates back at least to the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9), and is seen in Israel in the wilderness (Num 14:35, chapter 16). The worst gatherings ever to convene were those which conspired against Christ. Jewish leaders plotted His death (Mt 26:3-4), then gathered before Pilate to have him sentence Christ to crucifixion (Mt 27:17). Roman soldiers also gathered against Him to mock Him (Mt 27:27-31). Later, even as Christ was dying, men gathered around His cross and ridiculed Him. Peter later condemned some of these same men (Acts 4:27-28)—men who thought that they were gathered together with God.

God’s purpose in gathering men together has always been for His glory and man’s salvation. Even before God’s people were exiled in the Old Testament, the prophets spoke of a future time of restoration—a re-gathering of Israel (Isa 11:12, 56:8). God promised to “pour out” His Spirit upon this new gathering (Ezek 39:27-29); this took place over 500 years later at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-21). Since that time, God’s people have been gathered together “in Christ” (2 Cor 5:17). “By His doing,” we are brought together “in Christ Jesus,” having been “made alive” in Him despite the fact that we were dead to Him (1 Cor 1:30, Eph 2:1,5). Being “in Christ” is not like being “in a church building”; it speaks of one’s state of being before God—his fellowship with God—as a member of Christ’s spiritual church. All believers are gathered together in Christ “in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God” (Eph 2:21-22).

However, it is impossible to be gathered together with Christ without being separated from the world. This cannot mean, “Have no communication with unbelievers,” but means “Do not practice their worldliness; do not identify (or be identified) with them; do not become one of them” (cf. 2 Cor 6:14 – 7:1). Whoever is not with Christ is against Him (Mt 12:30). Christ Himself will ultimately make this separation final, as several passages indicate (Mt 3:12, 13:30,47-48, 25:32, John 15:1-6). For now, believers and unbelievers are forced to co-mingle and work together in order to survive in this life. But this will not continue forever: in the future, God will gather to Himself those who belong to Him and will gather together for destruction those who have resisted Him. Once separated, these two groups will never be reunited. God will finalize this decision, but He will not make it Himself: each one of us makes our own decision.

Meanwhile, a “great cloud of witnesses” gathers around us, encouraging us to remain faithful (Heb 12:1). On some future day, Christ will give the signal, and all those who belong to Him—both living and dead—will be gathered together with Him in the clouds, and “thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess 4:13-18). Then indeed the circle that began here on earth will be unbroken forever.

 

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