Suppose you were the head of an institution, having established it and written its bylaws and rules for operation. If you had left the institution to itself for a period of time and then returned to see how it was faring, would you know what to look for? Would there be certain expectations? The reality is that you, more than anyone else, would know exactly what it should look like and what it should be doing.
Suppose that Jesus were to come today, looking for His church. As its head and its sole authority, He would obviously know the characteristics and activities that set His church apart.
The church that Jesus would be looking for would be the one that is feverishly active in evangelistic endeavors to save the lost. Before His ascension, Jesus specified the church’s primary work—“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). The church does not exist to be a self-serving body. Our purpose is to preach Christ, “warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28). If Jesus were to come among us today, the church for which He would look would be the one that recognizes the need, the gravity and the urgency of their task to take the gospel to the lost. Is that the one you are looking for?
The church that Jesus would be looking for would be the one that loves one another. A church can be doctrinally sound and morally pure and still not be the church that Jesus established. Jesus gave the commandment—“love one another.” He gave the standard—“as I have loved you.” He gave the evidence—“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). If men can recognize the church for its love for one another, surely Jesus would be looking for that as well. Jesus is looking for the church that puts the needs of fellow brethren above personal needs (cf. Phil. 2:3-4). Is that the one you are looking for?
The church that Jesus would be looking for would be the one that edifies each other. A part of loving one another is the need to consider (Heb. 10:24), encourage (Rom. 14:19), exhort (Heb. 3:13), comfort (1 Thess. 5:11), show kindness (Eph. 4:32) and even admonish (Rom. 15:14) one another. Is that the one you are looking for?
Let us use His standard for finding His church!