The Chosen Pew

Last week, three of our church pews, Comfortable, Padded, and My Favorite, were having a conversation. Let’s listen in …

Comfortable: “Did you hear the news?”
Padded: “Yes, I did, and I’m excited about it!”
My Favorite: “What news? What are you two pews talking about?”
Padded: “We’re moving to a new home.”
Comfortable: “We’re going to a place that needs us.”
My Favorite: “But what about this church? What are people going to sit on?”
Comfortable: “They are getting chairs. You know that chairs are our descendants. My granddaughter even has my name—she is a Comfortable chair.”
Padded: “My niece, Padded, will be one of the chairs, too.”
My Favorite: “But why do they want chairs? They are so young and inexperienced. Lots of people have prayed on me during the years.”
Comfortable: “Lots of people have SLEPT on you, dear! They just look like they are praying.”
Padded: “I’m sure they prayed, too. But the chairs are younger and more mobile. They move around more easily than we do.”
Comfortable: “Oh yes, they can move off to the side, and the building can be used for children’s programs, dinners, youth events…”
My Favorite: “They can’t do that—We’re in a SANCTUARY!”
Padded: “Actually, we aren’t dear.”
My Favorite: “What do you mean, we aren’t in a sanctuary?”
Comfortable: “Honestly! You’ve had Bible’s in front of you for years! Haven’t you ever read one?”
My Favorite: “Well…”
Padded: “Look at Hebrews 9:1. It talks about the earthly tabernacle (sanctuary) that was set up in the time of Moses.”
My Favorite: “See, it proves my point exactly.”
Comfortable: “Keep reading. Look at verse 24. “For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.”
My Favorite: “So, this is saying that Christ is the sanctuary?”
Comfortable: “When humans come into God’s presence, through Christ, they are in the sanctuary of God.” Padded: “The sanctuary of God is really in the hearts of the humans Christ died for.”
My Favorite: “So we are going to a good home, to a church that really needs us.”
Comfortable: “That’s right, and those younger, newer chairs will carry on the proud tradition of allowing people to sit, pray, sing, and listen to God’s word.”
Padded: “Don’t forget the occasional nap.”
My Favorite: “You two are comfortable and padded after all.”
Comfortable: “And pretty soon, someone will say, ‘That’s my favorite chair.’”
Padded: “I do hope those humans use some of the chairs in front. The pews up front got awfully lonely.”
Comfortable: “Here comes the movers. They would get nervous if they heard us talking.”
My Favorite: “I’m excited this church has an extra big room that can be more used for God’s work.”
Padded: “I’m so excited we are one of the chosen pews!”