Twilight Zone
Fear of the Unknown can bring crippling anxiety into our lives. We have been living in the unknown for many days now. No one really knows how this virus is spread. No one has any idea how long it is going to ravage our nation. If you become infected, you don’t know how severe your illness might be. We are beginning to go back to a tolerable sense of normalcy and who knows what will happen now? It’s heartbreaking to read the posts and hear the words of friends and family who are truly terrified. Benjamin Franklin said “ In this word nothing can be siaid to be certain, except death and taxes.” It’s never seemed truer. However, I believe there is one more certainty; we can be certain of where we will spend eternity after death.
If you are not certain, please send me a message and we will have a private exchange.. For this post, like Peter, “ I am writing to God’s chosen people.” I Peter 5:3-7 NLT.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”
There is so much hope in those few verses.
· We have been born again by the mercy of God
· We live with great expectation (or we should)
· Our inheritance, our future is in Heaven (something to look forward to)
That inheritance is beyond the reach of change (Whew, I’ve had all the change I ever wanted in the last few weeks!)
· We are protected by God
· Even through this trial, there is great joy ahead!
· At some point, our endurance of this crisis will bring us praise and glory
There is so much “unknown” facing us today. Our very survival depends on our choices. And I don’t mean social distancing or masks.
Hang on to the truths in the Word of God. Trust what we know of His character. Believe that He remains in control. Know that He will turn all of these into good for us, here or in eternity.
Thinkin’ I’ll fight off fear and anxiety for another day.
