Have you ever been in a room or an area so dark your eyes strained to find any source of light in vain? I think that well describes the condition of many today in the world without Jesus. Scour the news reports, check that superannuation again, tune into the predictions of professors, and we are left in an unsettling darkness of doom. For those who are in Christ we have a source of light which comes not by improved circumstances, positive thinking, or forecasts of better days ahead, but in Himself expressed by love, grace, provision, and compassion.
For my mates in Australia, it was just in December I remember the bleak reports concerning the drought situation. Stage 2 water restrictions had just been implemented in NSW and the immediate reports from news stations and the water minister was Stage 3 restrictions were right around the corner. When rain was forecast caution was urged: "Don't expect this rainfall to make any impact in our dams or reduce restrictions," it was said. And what happened? God sent an abundance of rain our riverbeds and storm systems could not contain! Major dams were filled to capacity and the water restrictions have been relaxed to Stage 1 again.
Part of the human condition is one of forgetfulness. We can quickly forget about the annoying and impractical restriction to lug our water around in buckets--and how God answered our prayers for significant rain. Now we are under Stage 2 restrictions concerning gatherings which has resulted in shutting down shops, cafes, businesses, and gyms to avoid the spread of a virus with the outlook of a total lockdown imminent. Panic-buying and social distancing are suddenly a thing, and these bleak circumstances are taking a toll on the economy and mental health of people. Similar to how lifesavers are positioned on the beach to prevent swimmers being drawn into rips (and rescue them if they are), and the Word of God has been marvelously provided to keep believers from being caught up in the worried frenzy of the world.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 says, "Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good." Even when it seems impossible to put a good spin on a bad situation, in everything we can give thanks because we have a good God who loves us, who is with us, and will never leave or forsake us. The virus, the limit or lack of basic staples, loss of paid work or paying customers, or even all the growing restrictions we face is not our main problem: it is unbelief! A virus can infect, weaken, and ruin our bodies, but unbelief causes a person to be cut off from the love, comfort, and peace of God and ultimately to the eternal damnation of souls in hell,. Let us have compassion on those who are being swept off their feet in the current struggle, and being set firmly on the Rock of Salvation let us pull them to safety. Bless the LORD, for His perfect love casts out all fear.
For my mates in Australia, it was just in December I remember the bleak reports concerning the drought situation. Stage 2 water restrictions had just been implemented in NSW and the immediate reports from news stations and the water minister was Stage 3 restrictions were right around the corner. When rain was forecast caution was urged: "Don't expect this rainfall to make any impact in our dams or reduce restrictions," it was said. And what happened? God sent an abundance of rain our riverbeds and storm systems could not contain! Major dams were filled to capacity and the water restrictions have been relaxed to Stage 1 again.
Part of the human condition is one of forgetfulness. We can quickly forget about the annoying and impractical restriction to lug our water around in buckets--and how God answered our prayers for significant rain. Now we are under Stage 2 restrictions concerning gatherings which has resulted in shutting down shops, cafes, businesses, and gyms to avoid the spread of a virus with the outlook of a total lockdown imminent. Panic-buying and social distancing are suddenly a thing, and these bleak circumstances are taking a toll on the economy and mental health of people. Similar to how lifesavers are positioned on the beach to prevent swimmers being drawn into rips (and rescue them if they are), and the Word of God has been marvelously provided to keep believers from being caught up in the worried frenzy of the world.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 says, "Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good." Even when it seems impossible to put a good spin on a bad situation, in everything we can give thanks because we have a good God who loves us, who is with us, and will never leave or forsake us. The virus, the limit or lack of basic staples, loss of paid work or paying customers, or even all the growing restrictions we face is not our main problem: it is unbelief! A virus can infect, weaken, and ruin our bodies, but unbelief causes a person to be cut off from the love, comfort, and peace of God and ultimately to the eternal damnation of souls in hell,. Let us have compassion on those who are being swept off their feet in the current struggle, and being set firmly on the Rock of Salvation let us pull them to safety. Bless the LORD, for His perfect love casts out all fear.
No comments:
Post a Comment
To uphold the integrity of this site, no comments with links for advertising will be posted. No ads here! :)