ββ¦the house of Godβ¦is the church of the living God,Β the pillar and ground of the truthβ (I TimothyΒ 3:15).
The word βpillarβ should remind every Bible student of the pillar that God gave Israel to guide them through the wilderness to the promised land (NehemiahΒ 9:12). After the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea, theyΒ neededΒ a guide. They had been slaves for 400 years, and didnβt have a clue as to where they were going! Itβs not like Pharaoh let his slaves take exploratory vacations. So God had to lead themΒ every step of the wayΒ with the pillar.
Once Moses had written the Book of the Law, however, the pillar disappeared. Of course! Now they had aΒ BookΒ to guide them every step of the way. No matter where they went in life, they had a reliable Guide to teach them how to walk and please God. And now that Book has been completed and resides in the local church! No wonder God calls the churchΒ the pillar of the truth!Β Godβs people should follow that Book as closely as the Jews followedΒ theirΒ pillar. How closely was that?
ββ¦when the cloud tarriedβ¦Β then the children of Israelβ¦journeyed notβ¦Β when the cloudβ¦ was taken upβ¦Β then they journeyedβ¦β (Numbers 9:18-22).
When the pillar moved, they moved. When it rested, they rested. In other words,Β they didnβt make a move without the benefit of its guidance. Does that sound like a good way to follow the Book today? Beloved, God has graciously given us a Guide that can help us navigate the most treacherous paths of life. The One who steers the stars (Job 38:32) has deigned to guide the lives of His people. May we never forsake His direction!
This great Guide has further equipped us with a place to meet to hear His Book taught. If there is no church near you where Godβs rightly divided Word is taught in all its clarity, continue to share the gospel with the lost and Pauline truth with the saved. The people with whom you share Godβs guidance just might want to start meeting at your house to discuss it. And God has a word for such meetingsβHe calls itΒ churchΒ (Rom. 16:5; I Cor.Β 16:19; Col.Β 4:15; Philemon 1:2).
These references to churches that met in homes are especially significant when we remember how small the homes were in those days. Thereβs a reason the Lord had to send the apostles out to find a home large enough for twelve men to eat the Passover (Mark 14:12-16). Such rooms are not that uncommon today, but they were then! Thus Paulβs allusions to churches that met in those humble homes tells us that the smallest of gatherings isΒ a churchΒ in Godβs eyes, one that He will be pleased to call His house, the pillar and ground of the truthΒ in your community. source
