Chaos Confusion & Christ
It’s everywhere and getting worse. If you are watching or reading the news, you might think I am talking about Covid 19. The answer is yes and no.
The virus itself isn’t the only thing that is everywhere and getting worse. It seems that chaos and confusion are continuing to ramp up and it feels like they are escalating every day almost by the hour.
Infection rates. Hospitalizations. New cases. Are the numbers all accurate?
New orders. Revised orders. Travel recommendation. Is this all necessary?
Is it safe anywhere? Outside? With a mask? At a store?
And now, what’s going on with the government? More protests and continued election concerns. Who’s really in charge? Who do you believe?
All this during a time that we are looking for racism on all fronts to be addressed and eliminate from our country.
Some say we are living in unprecedented times and that may well be true. However, let’s take a step back oing back about 2000 years. There was another time that was unprecedented.
There was a man, very young by today’s standards, just 30 years old. He was shaking up first the Jewish world and then the world beyond. His claims were considered by many as outlandish, even blasphemous meaning an affront to God. He, of all things, claimed to be the Son of God*, the long awaited Messiah**.
Talk about confusion. Think of the differencing in opinions that would have transpired between religious leaders, friends, neighbors and families. Even some members of Jesus own family did not believe Him. People said:
He’s just a carpenter’s son.
He’s just from Galilee.
He’s untrained.
Yet:
He’s doing miracles.
He’s speaking with authority.
He’s fulfilling prophesy.
Think of the confusion that likely ensued as some thought He, as the Savior of Israel, was going to raise up an army and free Israel, defeating all their enemies. Yet this man spoke of love, forgiveness and new life through Him and only Him.
Imagine what the Facebook and Intagram feeds would have said if social media existed during this time in history. It would have likely meet and maybe even exceed what we are seeing today. The news media would have had a hay day with reporting on this guy. Headlines would have certainly not been supportive of His message.
Then, after three short years of beginning His ministry, the unthinkable happened. He predicted it but no one, not even His closest companions, saw it coming. He was arrested for a crime He did not commit. He was convicted of nothing. He was sentenced to be hung on a cross to die on a hill with criminals. He was laid to rest in a borrowed tomb.
What a tortuous horrible ending to any life. I am thinking that many who had believed or considered believing now would questioned Him and questioned themselves. There had to have been much confusion. Many may have argued that if He really was the Son of God, He would have never allowed this to happen.
In three days, there was more confusion and chaos. The stone that sealed the borrowed tomb that had housed Christ’s body was rolled away while guarded by the finest of Roman soldiers. The tomb was then found to be empty with only burial garments remaining.
Again, imagine the many differing thoughts:
It is a miracle.
It was theft.
He said He would rise.
It’s not possible.
Some rejoiced, others doubted, others I am sure didn’t know what to think.
What would you have done or thought? Where would you have turned for direction and relief from the confusion and chaos?
It was Christ who brought clarity to what had happened in His life, death and resurrection. It was through Christ that the confusion and chaos ended for those early followers when they:
Looked to Him.
Believed in Him.
Obeyed His words.
Fast forward, 2000 years later, have things really changed?
Sure, the headlines are different. There’s social media. The causes of confusion and chaos are different. The world communicates differently. We have a different government.
Beyond these superficial changes, have we as people really changed? Are we not just like the early believers being influenced by doubt and fear?
There is one thing that has not changed. Our Lord and Savior is unchanging. Read these words of assurance from the book of Hebrews:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 ESV
“So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.” Hebrews 6:18 NLT
In Matthew Jesus tells us the following:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” Matthew 24:35 ESV
Jesus continually told those around Him, to follow Him, to hear Him and to obey His words. Read these examples of Christ’s teachings:
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12 ESV
“And He said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” Matthew 16:24 ESV
Today we can choose to do what the followers of Jesus ultimately did. They followed the one person who gave clear vision, speaking calm over the noise of the day. For that calm and clarity we too can:
Look to Him.
Believe in Him.
Obey His words.
It is then that peace as only Christ can provide is gifted to us. Nothing is better then the peace Christ gives us. These are His words.
“I (Jesus) am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give you the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
Take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Read the verse again. Put this verse where you can be regularly reminded of it’s promise. Better yet, memorize it and say it every time the chaos and confusion of this world attempts to draw you in and disrupt your Christ given peace.
JW
*See John 10:36
**See John 10:30