Where is My Hope?

Jesus said a house divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12;25). He also prayed intensely for Himself, for believers He had taught, and for believers to come in the future that they would be unified (John 17).

The weakest point in the history of the United States of America was during the years leading up to and including the Civil War – when people were divided strongly on the line of whether the government should be able to tell states what to do or not. The focus was slavery, but the issue was and always will be where the power and control lie. And it came out in an ugly war that pitted even family against family.

During the years of rebuilding, families came back together, grieved together, and found new strength. The problems were far from resolved, but people for the most part learned to live amicably with each other knowing that they did not want to go to war again. However, since the attack on the twin towers in 2001, a change has occurred. There was damage like the damage caused by a huge earthquake. And the aftershocks keep coming. People no longer trust in the goodness of each other. We suspect those who disagree with us of malintent.

Along with the political turmoil, communication between people has changed drastically. Where once families sat and talked with each other at the dinner table and discussed ideas, politics, religion, and family relationships, they now text each other with few words and little expression of ideas. Few people seem to know how to express their ideas and listen to the ideas of others. Judgment and misunderstanding is at an all time high and we hurt each other and hurt people hurt people and the pain grows.

And then the pandemic hit adding a high level of fear to the mix. Power and control among political leaders and lack of communication among the people made our society ripe for even greater mistrust and division. People were isolated in an attempt to control the spread of the virus. And the places where people went for emotional healing – family and church – also became divided along the lines of how serious the threat was and how to mitigate it. We divided among isolation vs. gathering, masks vs. no masks, vaccines vs. human immune system, and many other subtle and not so subtle divisions.

And still, lack of communication wreaks havoc among the people. Few people are interested in listening to the opposing view on anything. Misinformation spreads like wildfire across the Internet and social media. And sources of information that can be trusted are buried in it and difficult to find. So much information is driven by money and politics. People who were once friends yell at each other and call each other names.

And in this whole big mess, we begin to see the gods we worship, the places and things in which we put our hope for the future. And a still, small voice calls out, “I am still here. You can come to Me and lay your burdens down and I will give you rest. Spend some time in My green pastures beside the quiet streams. I have all that you need and give it generously and freely to you. Come! Taste and see that I Am good! My love for you is infinite and intimacy with Me satisfies like nothing else. I Am the Good Shepherd and I will guide you. Leave the chaos behind and follow Me.” (Matthew 11:28, Psalm 23, Matthew 7:10-12, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 103:17, Psalm 145:16, John 10:11-18)

There are those who listen to that voice. They choose another way. A way of peace and love. A willingness to lay down their points of view and listen to the fears and anxieties of others. No, they don’t make the problems go away, but they focus on the Problem Solver and trust in His goodness and ability to overcome. They seek to understand rather than to be understood. They show generosity toward others, especially those most hurt by the current conditions. They worship their God because He is worthy of their praise and because He brings victory after victory in their life and the lives of others. They live in a place of quiet trust, even when things around them look bleak. They trust that their Creator is working all things out. They trust His love for them. They trust that He can take what the enemy means for evil and use it for good.

They know who the enemy is and it isn’t their neighbor, their friend, their family or their political opponent. It is Satan. He has come to steal, to kill and to destroy. He is a liar and a thief. He deceives people and pits them against each other because he knows if they work together, he will lose. Jesus prayed for unity in all believers because He knew that would be our strongest defense against the enemy. That unity is not centered around sharing common political views or values. It is centered around seeking and obeying our Good Shepherd and learning and following the things He taught us through His life here on earth. When our focus is there, the things that divide us become much smaller and less toxic. Our fears dissipate because perfect love casts out all fear (I John 4:18).

There is hope, but it is not in charismatic leaders or government regulations or pharmaceutical companies or in any of the other things we think will save us.

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.

"When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.

"His oath, his covenant, his blood supports me in the 'whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.

"When He shall come with trumpet sound, oh may I then in Him be found. Dressed in his righteousness alone Faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand."

Lyrics: Edward Mote (1797-1874)

 

COVID-19 and Genesis 19

Usually, I blog based on my morning reading in the Bible. But this morning, I did not even get to the reading of the Bible and the Lord began speaking into me. You see, like many around me, in this day of COVID-19 terrorizing us, I find myself grieving. We are used to a few people here and there grieving loss, but this is different. Nearly every person on the planet is grieving – even if they don’t recognize it. How in the world do we deal with all the unwelcome changes, the isolation, the fear of the unknown, the fear of the virus itself, the fear for the economy, the fear for the safety of our families?

And of all things, the Lord brought Lot and his family to mind. In Genesis 19, we are told that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. Lot and his family had been walked out by the angels and sent away from the destruction. They were living life as usual and were seemingly not bothered by the sin all around them. When they were told to leave, they resisted. The angels had to literally grasp their hands and lead them out of the city.

At that point, I am certain they were experiencing shock and instant grief. Everything they had worked for was left behind. They only had their lives. They were to not look back, but Lot’s wife did and became a pillar of salt. Lot begged to go to a nearby town rather than flee to the mountains as he had been instructed. But after he saw the total destruction of everything he loved, he and his daughters did flee to the mountains and lived in a cave.

Now why did this come to mind in light of COVID-19? As we are experiencing the grief of losing “life as normal” and having to adapt in our families and communities, some people are living in a state of panic, some are depressed, some are hoping to return to normal in a few weeks and disappointed every time the time for social isolation is extended. Some are working but fearing for their health and the health of their families. Some are out of work and income. If we keep looking back on what we have lost and are losing, we will be paralyzed like Lot’s wife. If we refuse to look ahead, we will “live in a cave” of fear and depression and go nowhere.

Times are changing. The Lord is rescuing us from the pace of life that is winding up faster and faster and killing us little by little and He is giving us opportunity to re-evaluate what is important. He is pouring out “new wine” for us to experience. Will we bring out “new wine skins” or will we try to put it into the “old wine skins” of previous habits and schedules?

I really don’t want to go where Lot went. I desire to be open to where God is telling me to go – what He is telling me to do. First, I have to trust Him completely to be in control and to take care of me. Then I need to set aside my fear and desire to look back and look ahead to what He is giving me instead. I believe He is resetting my compass and making sure I am going the right direction. As long as He gives me breath, He has things for me to do and I need to be focused on Him so I receive that direction and can obey it.

Yes, it is hard. But it seems that “hard” is what it takes for God to get our full attention instead of a polite nod in His direction once or twice a week. Let’s move with confidence into the next phase of this journey. God loves us. He is in control. He has a purpose for us. He will lead us. We can trust Him. Take His hand and let Him lead you to safety.