Disrupting the Sanctuary: Lateness and Disrespect

The polished floors of Entrance Glory Chapel gleamed under the soft morning light, each tile a silent witness to the sacred moments that unfolded within these hallowed walls. But even the most sacred spaces can be marred by the careless steps of those who, perhaps without malice, yet with a striking lack of awareness, disrupt the very peace they seek. I’ve seen it, haven’t you? The hushed whispers that ripple through the pews, the subtle shifts of heads turning, the almost imperceptible frowns that crease foreheads as the service, the precious, sacred Word, is already in full flight.

It’s the latecomer, you see. Not the one who, through unforeseen circumstances, a genuine emergency, finds themselves arriving a few minutes past the appointed hour, their face etched with apology and a quiet haste to find a seat without fanfare. No, I speak of a different kind of lateness. The kind that strolls in, a casual disregard for the sacred rhythm already established, as if the opening prayer, the initial outpouring of hearts to the Almighty, were merely a prelude to be skipped. And then, the audacity, the sheer, unthinking boldness, to expect the front row. To expect the seat that a faithful brother or sister, who arrived with the rising sun and a heart full of anticipation, has been holding with quiet reverence.

I’ve watched Apostle Kodua, his gaze steady, his spirit unwavering, as he preaches the life-giving Word. His voice, a resonant instrument of divine truth, fills the sanctuary, weaving threads of hope and revelation. And then, a rustle. A disturbance. A small, anemic eddy in the powerful current of the Spirit. It’s the sound of a door opening, of feet shuffling, of a whispered apology that is more of an announcement than a plea for forgiveness. And often, it’s accompanied by the hopeful, the frankly demanding, glance towards the front.