Rabbit Trail #11 – God is Bigger on the Inside

I was blessed to gather with fellow followers of the way of Jesus yesterday morning at a church on the campus of the University of Ghana called Legon Interdenominational Church (LIC). The experience was so moving on so many levels that I do not know where to begin, but I felt moved to reflect on it in a “Rabbit Trail”…so off we go.

The day started with hard drenching rain so myself and two colleagues caught a taxi to the hostel where the study abroad students we are leading from GVSU are staying. I thought perhaps the early hour and the hard rain would dampen the student’s enthusiasm. It did not. All 12 students showed up “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” as my dad used to say. 3 headed off to a Catholic mass with my two colleagues and 9 of them went with me to the LIC.

We took taxis to escape the rain and via three taxis we made it to LIC in time for the 9:15 am service. We found seats and began to sing songs in African language (Ashanti I believe). The song that caught my attention, and brought tears to my eyes, included the phrase “God is bigger than people say He is”.

As I attempted to sing I was experiencing just how big God is at that very moment. We were praising God in a common language of love – people of all nationalities, ages, genders, colors, denominations, and races. God is bigger than all these things.

I am a Doctor Who fan. Those familiar with Doctor Who know that he travels through time and space in something called a TARDIS which stands for time and relative dimensions in space. Dr. Who, a “time lord”, travels through time and space with earthly sidekicks having all sorts of adventures.

The interesting thing about the TARDIS is that from the outside it looks like an ordinary blue British police telephone box, but on the inside it is a magical place with many rooms and wonders. On the outside of the TARDIS is a sign that reads “Free for use of the public – advice and assistance obtainable immediately”. The church we were in could have had a sign that read “Free and open to all those who follow Jesus – advice, assistance, and acceptance available immediately”.

The LIC and experience worshiping God with my Ghanaian brothers and sisters was very much like a spiritual TARDIS for me yesterday…it — “the church” (“where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name”) was bigger on the inside than the outside (the church building).

The Lord of time and space Himself, God, was present in an almost tangible way to show us the way. People sang and danced for, and it seemed with, God. At one point we were treated to a choir of children from a group called “Press on Kids” that was truly amazing. We also shared prayers and gifts for those impacted by the recent flooding and fire in Accra, Ghana.

God transcended time and dimensions to join us in that building that was clearly not big enough on the outside to hold Him. It was an experience that I will cherish and remember as long as I have a memory to do so.

Prayer: God thank You so much for promising to join us when we gather in Your name, and providing a common language of love we can share.