Throw Off the Chains of Guilt

This is Captain Rodriguez, leaving another message. It’s been about ten Earth days since the accident. It’s difficult to tell time here…wherever here is. I’m slowly running out of food and drink. After that, it’s over. I’m still alone, but I’m hoping someone is getting these messages, although I don’t know if the crash damaged the comms beacon.

I’ve been thinking about my church lately. (Thinking is the only thing I can really do now, besides sending these messages.) I never really liked going to church. My parents made me. They said, “A good Christian is always in community.†All I really wanted was to be by myself, which is why I chose this job.

But even here I had a small community, up until ten days ago.

Everybody is gone now. I’m all alone. I feel like I’m in a dark, empty room, and, no matter how long I search the walls, there is no light switch.

I have always called myself a Christian, but I never really wanted to have community with anyone, even God. I always thought I was better than all those people at church, always pretending they were fine and denying their brokenness. But I was unknowingly doing the same. What a fool I was.

Oh, how I wish I wasn’t in charge of controls that day! But that’s part of my job, so it is what it is. Now all I have left is seeking community with my God.

I hope it’s okay to talk about these things here. I don’t even know if anyone is receiving these messages anyway—so deal with it.

I know Jesus has shown me His grace by reminding me that true community is found in Him because of what He did on the cross. He died for sin so that, through faith, we could be close to Him once again. He died and rose again so that His people could be in community centered on Him—now and forever. Even now, He’s with me and all of His people.

He’s given me a second chance to return to His light. To allow Him to be the light in this dark and empty room. I believe the community I have in Him will be more than enough now, even if I never get to be rescued. And if I do get rescued, I know for a fact that I will never run away from community again. Nonetheless, I know that seeking my God will be my deliverance.

That’s all for today. Captain Rodriguez signing off. • Andres López

• How have you tried to isolate yourself from the world or your church community? Why or why not?

• How is Jesus calling you to community with others and with Him today?

• Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Revelation 21:1-5. Why is it so important that our Christian community will last for eternity?

• To learn more about what it means to have eternal community with God and His people, check out our “Know Jesus” page.

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Psalm 103:8-12; Micah 7:18-19; Romans 8:1-4