What I am Learning
The events of the past couple months have been life-changing to say the least. We were in the middle of having an election when a pandemic put the brakes on that season for a bit. On Monday, March 30, 2020, Governor Hogan of Maryland issued an executive order for us to stay at home unless we met a few conditions.
The Writing on the Wall
In Daniel 5:5, King Belshazzar saw a hand writing on the wall with no body attached to it. He was in the middle of a party and decided to use the sacred gold and silver drinking cups from the temple of God in Jerusalem.
I’ve always wondered why we use that expression. We talk about the writing on the wall, as if, in hindsight, we should have paid attention that something bad could have been prevented.
Throughout the Bible we read stories of God warning his people and allowing them to be tested in preparation for a bigger blessing, a greater destiny.
In Genesis 6:8, we read about how Noah found grace in the eyes of God. Long story short, Noah was warned about what would take place, he was obedient to God’s call, and he and his family were saved.
In Genesis 19, Lot was warned, he obeyed, and God saved him and his daughters.
Job was tested, lost everything and everyone that was close to him. Can you imagine someone like Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos losing everything and having to sleep on the street? Despite all Job endured however, he did not speak a single, solitary word against his Creator. He was well-rewarded for his faithfulness once his trials had passed.
The World View
A few years ago, I turned off the news completely because I realized that whenever I watched, I would get feelings of anxiety with regards to what was taking place in the world around us and in our local area. I remember watching the news one day and study funded by an opposing lobby said that eggs were bad. Another study published a few days later said that eggs were good. The truth, I think, is somewhere in between. All things in moderation perhaps. Today, depending on the source, many news organizations may put their own spin on a story but leave out crucial details, or possibly get the story wrong in a rush to be first to publish.
The current shock that the pandemic COVD-19 virus has hit the global economy with is pretty harsh. Cities, states, countries completely shut down. Times Square looks like a ghost town lit up in neon lights. Broadway has gone dark. Empty airplanes. Vacant hotels. Deserted beaches. Disney World gone dark. This virus showed up seemingly out of nowhere. Many are saying that end times are here, this is it, The Rapture is happening soon, Jesus will be back in a minute. Some think it’s a hoax designed to politically embarrass public figures, and others couldn’t care less and just go about their daily lives as they did before. Their refrigerators are stocked, they have essentials, including bath tissue, internet, shelter, clothing and are living their best lives according to the measure of the world we live in.
Many people who put their faith in things, jobs, stuff, money, and property are waking up to a new reality – these things are temporary, they don’t last, they are not fulfilling, and they can’t save you. Americans living paycheck to paycheck will be off work indefinitely, in some cases and for most this is a situation that until a few weeks ago, was hard to imagine.
The virus has challenged the concept of immortality for many young, old and in between — spring breakers, celebrities, gen x, boomers, and millennials have now all pretty much become shut-ins.
As shut-in as we are, some of us are still too busy for our kids, families, friends and the Father.
People of faith have an opportunity to change that thinking.
The Believer’s View
About a decade ago I attended Concord First Assembly in Concord, N.C. around the time of the financial crisis. I remember a testimony an older gentleman gave — he had recently lost his job and had to significantly cut back on expenses. However, instead of reducing his tithe or financial giving, he actually went ahead and increased his giving. I remembered because it stood out as an affirmation of his faith that God would see he and his family through the crisis.
I think for believers, this virus is a test of our faith, of our respective walks with God. It is an opportunity, much like what Job went through to count it all joy, to understand and to know that the Creator has His eye on us and knows what we need and how we will be impacted. I cannot fully imagine the breadth of what Job went thru, but in the end God rewarded him by restoring his fortune and giving him twice as much as he had before. (See the book of Job)
Jonah had a different idea – run away, that didn’t work out for him. (See Jonah 1-4) He eventually came around and fulfilled the purpose that God had designated for him.
Lessons Learned
What purpose do you think God has designated for you? Are you taking the Jonah route, going to hang out in the belly of a whale for a few days, or will you take the Noah route, build an ark to feed and shelter and cover God’s people in the midst of a storm?
In this season where things are super uncertain, we have to trust and depend on God to send manna to feed us daily.
I think we should turn off all the distractions, news alerts, YouTube videos, social media, binge watching, and distractions in general and put God first. I think that we should focus our energies on fasting and praying and giving thanks to God for all He has done and is continuing to do in our lives.
I recently read a saying that in essence said, “Give it to God and go to sleep.” It is reinforcing the fact that, as believers, we should pray about everything and not worry about anything.
I think in this period of darkness for the world, believers have a responsibility to shine their light even brighter so that people will have the opportunity to have a relationship with God.
As we do this, we fulfill the greatest commandment which tells us to love God and love people.
CT