SOME WEDNESDAY MEDITATIONS
Isn’t it interesting how quickly our lives can be disrupted and turned inside out? Now I somewhat understand what the old timers meant by the “panic time”. At least we still have grocery stores with some food items still readily available.
The one thing missing in all of this is the coming of Easter, and, for me, I had lot rather hear about the resurrection of Christ than the continued bombardment about the Coronavirus. It is because of the resurrection that we can face disaster as Christians.
This is not to say that the Coronavirus is not a real threat or news but that the resurrection of Christ is the best news the world has ever heard. In the book of Matthew the last recorded words of the resurrected Jesus is, “And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (KJV). Jesus’ promise is not the virus will not come but that even if it does He will be with us all the way through it and beyond.
Romans 8:38-39, “ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (ESV).
By this time of year in the year Jesus died, our Lord was on His way from Galilee to Jerusalem for the last time—this time to die. In Luke this time covers 10 chapters (9:51-19:44) and, therefore, in Luke, Jesus is almost always in motion. He goes from village to village preaching the gospel, healing, warning and teaching His disciples.
In less than a month He will be crucified and leave them to spread the gospel to the world. Imagine, leaving the salvation of the whole world, now, and in all future generations to a handful of uneducated and mostly selfish people. He sure had a lot more confidence in humanity than we do. But He never really did leave them alone!
Notice He said, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”. He is with us by His Spirit and does not leave us alone. There are way too many things that are just too big for us to handle—but not too big for Him. He knows what He is doing. Keep praying, keep loving and keep the faith.
A friend sent this to me. As Martin Luther was dealing with the return of the bubonic plague he wrote these words:
“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me He will surely find me and I have done what He has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person I shall go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.” Luther’s Works; Vol. 43, pg. 132
Pastor Jim
