As we prepare to celebrate Easter, I just want to remind you that Jesus Christ defeated sin, death, hell and the grave.
Romans 8:37 tells us that we are “more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.”
There has never been a time in our lives where it was more important for the church to be the church and for Christians to reflect the love of Jesus. As the world grows darker, the light of Jesus shines brighter.
It is a fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it an overwhelming amount of bad news that has quite literally turned our entire world upside down. Hundreds of thousands of people infected worldwide, thousands of deaths, financial markets crashing, schools closing, businesses suffering and so much more. There seems to be no end to the negative headlines.
In the midst of it all, I want to remind you that the church has a promise and a hope that exceeds the darkness. The good news of the Gospel is so much greater than the bad news we have been hearing. The light of the Gospel shines so much brighter than the darkness facing our world today.
The message of hope we have in Jesus Christ is so much greater and even more contagious than COVID-19 when Christian people choose to share it. Proclaim the hope that you have in Jesus. Celebrate the peace that is found only in him.
Our stability has been disturbed. So many of the things we enjoy and hold dear have been taken away in very short order. Restaurants, stadiums, concert halls, theaters and even churches sit empty right now. A new reality is before us, one that few would have ever dreamed possible just a few days ago. The economic impact of this global crisis has been felt by people all over the world.
In the middle of all this chaos, the world has been forced to face an unexpected reality. Many of us have been segregated to our homes. The distractions of the world have been taken away. Perhaps it is a little easier for us to listen to the still small voice of God. The Psalmist reminds us to “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
I want to encourage you to set aside time during this period of isolation where we have all been separated at least to some extent from the distractions of the world and refocus on the things that really matter. Isaiah 55:6 admonishes us to “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” I am praying that COVID-19 will serve as a wake-up call for our nation and for our world.
Just about everything in our world has been turned upside down in just a matter of days, but Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that one thing remains the same: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” It’s time for our nation to turn their hearts back to him. Talk to him in prayer. Read and study his Word. Reflect on the hope we have in him.
People are wrestling with fear and anxiety about the uncertainty of the future, including jobs, finances, family, health concerns, etc. The one thing that almost all people have in common is that they’re searching for something that gives them hope.
In many ways, hope is about perspective. When we have faith in Christ, we have hope for things eternal, things that will never decay or waste away. C.S. Lewis said, “A Christian’s hope isn’t an escape or wishful thinking, but something that a Christian is meant to do.”
Remember this promise from Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Steve Greene is the lead pastor of The Point in Seymour. Read his blog at pastorgreene.wordpress.com or email him at [email protected]. Send comments to [email protected].
