From the moment I first heard about the Coronavirus sweeping the world I’ve maintained the same stance. It sounds cruel, but it’s true. We all have a terminal sentence. From the moment we are conceived the clock begins ticking on our time on earth. At some point, we will all take a final breath here and enter into eternity. The vehicle for that passing could be a disease, a disaster, or simply old age. But death is a certainty we all must face.
Facing death is easier when your hope for eternity is rooted in Jesus. Knowing that He paid the ultimate price so that I might live with Him forever gives me peace. I don’t look forward to the struggles that I may endure before seeing His face, including the struggle of dying, but I know He will be with me through the pain and lead me as the Good Shepherd He is.
However, this peace doesn’t always reign in my heart. I don’t fear death, but I do fear pain. I fear the unknown. And I greatly fear the changes to our current world order that Jesus foretold would take place before His return to establish His kingdom.
In fact, last week, I confessed to a friend that I was terrified. I look at how quickly our lives went from a normal rhythm to panic to isolation and it scares me. I think of the freedom of religion we have had the blessing of worshipping under in this nation and I realize that could one day be taken away. I recognize the full kitchen cupboards I’ve enjoyed and the steady paycheck I’ve come to count on and I know it could all be gone in an instant.
Essentially, what God has revealed to me through the Coronavirus is that I’ve been pulling levers and turning wheels like the great Wizard of Oz and believing my own lies. I’ve acted as if I have control over my life, my health, and my future. I’ve told myself that if I work hard enough, God will give me the dream life I’ve always wanted. I’ve believed that if I hold tight enough, the privilege I’ve enjoyed will be mine forever.
When the economy started to crumble and the safety precautions sent everyone home, I saw the truth. Much of my faith is simply smoke and mirrors. I trust Jesus to usher me into His presence when I die, but I don’t always rest in the fullness of His presence in daily life. I claim to want to help others, but I’m far more concerned about myself.
Jesus said,
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
When I look to the future, I want friends, family, financial security, and a house by the beach in a sunny, warm city. But Jesus didn’t promise us sandy toes and 401Ks. He promised tribulation and even persecution for His name’s sake.
Though this may all sound bleak, He also promised that He would never leave or forsake us. I’ve been reminded that when this life is over, all that will matter is Jesus. There is no inconvenience, no trial, no pain that we won’t be thankful for because these things show us the truth of who we are so we can align ourselves better with Him.
When this life is over, all that will matter is Jesus. Click To TweetListen to these last words Jesus prayed on behalf of His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane before being arrested and crucified:
“I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake, I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, (that’s us!)that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” – John 17:15-23
Four things give me courage in these words from our Savior apart from the mind-blowing truth that JESUS PRAYED FOR US. In His last moments, He wasn’t worried about Himself. He prayed that God would keep us from the evil one. Incredible.
- We are not of this world. We were created with eternity in our hearts. This world is not our final destination. As the old song says, we’re just “passin’ through.”
- Jesus died so that we might be washed clean in the truth of His saving grace. He did that for you and me. And He did it so that God would be glorified.
- Jesus died so that we might enter into relationship with God and each other. That we could share in the unity of His life.
- In us becoming one with the Father and in unity with each other, we will show the world that God loves them too—just as much as God loves Jesus.
If that doesn’t just make your heart want to explode right out of your chest I don’t know what will.
Listen, friends. Listen to what Jesus said. By growing in our relationship with God and others we will show the world His love. By sharing our toilet paper with our neighbors and checking on the elderly, we show God’s love. We prefer others over ourselves when we stay home when we’d rather be anywhere else. And when we speak words of faith and hope instead of fear, we glorify Jesus, who has conquered death and promises new life, eternal life for all who place their trust in Him.
I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. I’m not guaranteed another breath. Despite what I like to believe, I’m not in control. I can be a good steward of this life I’ve been given, but only God knows the length of the dash on my tombstone.
What I do know is that God is good and I can trust Him. I can rest knowing that whatever I face, I will never be alone. He is always with me, giving me strength, wisdom, and courage when I have none within myself. Even in suffering, He has promised good. I can stop trying to fool myself into believing I’ve got everything under control because I know that He does and He has a good plan for my life even if it ends up looking different than the one I have imagined. A plan to prosper me, not to harm me—to give me hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
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