“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
The times and the culture we are living in are truly “perilous times” when considered from the perspective of all that is evil and of the “devil” whom Jesus called “the father of lies.”
Uncertainty always brings with it accompanying doubt, fear and a certain wondering of how in the world are we going to make it through whatever has confronted us in life. It is no different in the changing climate of the coronavirus that is marching from one country to another and from one continent to another!
To complicate the situation, with the availability of 24/7 news and information, our young people … even our very young … are not escaping the ravages of fear and apprehension.
It is indeed difficult for us … even among the most seasoned of Christians … to try and get our hands around all that is taking place. Worship services being canceled indefinitely, no Bible classes except as they are being videoed and shown via various media outlets.
People’s lives are being changed in dramatic ways including work schedules, layoffs, and stores closing and on and on the list can go. God’s people are not being overlooked through all of this. We are all facing challenging times. Life as we know it has changed … at least for now!
So, what are we to do? What is our task to rise up and accept right now … right here in March of 2020?
The Apostle Peter reminded his fellow Christians who were facing their own “perilous times” about the unwavering truth that our God in “divine power has provided for us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3)
Yes, my friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ, Jesus is our source of strength, the object of a faith that can be strong and vibrant even in the worst of times, and that is always centered on Him … not the problems, circumstances, dangers around us!
Our loving and all-knowing God has preserved for us in His Word example after example of people … His people … experiencing just such times of struggle as we face today. This is no accident that it has been preserved. The apostle Paul writes that the record of events in man’s history have been preserved for us for a reason, “For whatsoever things were written for or learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope!” (Romans 15:4)
Remember how Joseph rose to a high place of influence to Pharaoh during a time of famine. Remember Esther and stepping up to save her people in a very dangerous and dark time. Remember Elijah and a time of drought because of the sins around him. On and on we could go … story after story … but God who never changes never changed!
I need hope right now … I need strength right now … I need a deeper faith and trust in Jehovah God right now … I need to read and to hear and to reflect on His promises, don’t you?
I need to read His words, “… I will never leave you or forsake you. So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Nothing takes place … nothing happens … that our God doesn’t already know about and is fully aware of! What a wonderful God we serve!
So, back to our question that requires an answer. What is our task? What is it that God wants us to do? More specifically, what is your task and what is mine? The prophet Micah tells us in a very plain and forthright way, doesn’t he?
- Trust in God more tomorrow than you did today! How do we do that? By reading, studying, meditating on His Word because “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). With nowhere to go … make the most of your time by growing closer to the Lord!
- Bring your family before the throne of God in prayer. Do so privately and do so in their very presence! They need reassurance … they need an example of what to do in their own lives! Remember the words of James 5:16, “the effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much.” How much is “much”? Try and answer that one and you will fall short every time!
- Bring God into your home with a family Bible Study … show them, share with them, teach them … that God is very much alive, caring, and mindful of them!
We can all do better, can’t we? May we all ask our loving God to help us grow closer to Him and become even more mindful of a life that awaits after all the sin, suffering and despair of this world is over … and when we can realize the joy of spending eternity with Him who loved us!
Bill Fairchild, Jr.
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