Our time on this earth is consumed by thousands of days. Some days are glorious and we want to enjoy and relish them. Other days are treacherous, dangerous, horrible and we just want them to end. It’s funny how those days seem to stick out in our minds. Today we are faced with days full of mixed emotions. Life goes on, we learn, we eat, our children grow, but everything around us seems to be shutting down. The sun comes us with its beauty and the night falls in its elegance, but society seems to be crumbling. Despite living in the modern world a novel virus has brought our country and the world into turmoil. Now we face many questions. What happens next? How will our country respond? Will I be able to find food or toilet paper? For the Christian, we may ask all these questions and more. However, the most fundamental question to us is: How do I respond? When everything around me seems to be falling down and falling apart, what should I do?
The answer is given to us in the word of God. The Bible bears witness to us that we are not the first ones to experience a trying time. If the Lord tarries we shall not be the last ones either. As the Israelites were preparing to enter the promised land God told them, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” In fact, between Deuteronomy 31 and Joshua 1, they are told 7 times to be strong and courageous. This is one resounding message throughout the scriptures. Do not fear, but be courageous. If you will take a moment you will notice, from the text above, how we walk in strength and courage. We trust the Lord. We put our faith in Him. Why? Because He goes with us! He will not leave us, nor forsake us!
In this time it is this glorious truth onto which we shall hang. We do not fear disease, nor death, nor isolation, nor governments, nor any other thing in this world. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Indeed “nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” For those who are in Christ, we stand secure. We have a sure foundation. Though all the things around us fall and we lose all in this world, our house is built upon the Rock. Therefore, let us flee to Him in prayer and supplication, today and every day that we might take shelter under His wings! Amen