Michael continues his message on "Finding Rest", writing that people say that this
pandemic is unprecedented. We had no warning of this “silent invisible enemy”
and we have no defenses against it. Our national leaders have declared that we
are now on a wartime battle. The resources of our nation have been
mobilized to fight this invisible enemy. The Bible says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but
against spiritual wickedness from on high. Even though we have been blind
sided by this virulent pandemic, God was not surprised. He knows the end
from the beginning. From God’s perspective, this too shall pass.
In Matthew 11:27-30 Jesus
said, “All things are delivered unto me of
my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the
Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and
lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is
easy, and my burden is light.”
What we all need is rest. Jesus
said, come unto me all you who are weary
and are leafy laden and I will give you rest. When we rest in Jesus,
through his power we will be the reliable ones in this time of crisis. We have
to voluntarily yoke ourselves together with the Lord. He says take my
yoke upon you and learn from me ... fixing our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter
of faith. For Jesus said, my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
The Bible says we should walk circumspectly, not as fools
but as wise, redeeming the times
because the days are evil. We should
walk precisely according to the path God sets before each of us. A wise
man said, “fools rush in where angels
fear to tread.” Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Martin
Luther said during the pestilence of the Black Plague, “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 pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my
negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely know where to find
me. And I have done what he has expected of me. And I am not responsible
for my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me I shall
avoid neither place nor person but will go freely as stated above.”
After a long and grueling
day of ministry, Jesus said to his disciples, “Get in the boat, we’re going to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.”
Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat. Suddenly a great storm
arose and the rain and hail pelted their boat. The waves crashed over them and
their boat filled with water. Even though they were seasoned fishermen,
they were terrified and thought they would all drown. In a panic they woke
Jesus said, “don’t you care if we all
perish?” Jesus said, “Peace be
still!” Immediately the wind and the waves ceased. The disciples
marveled and said to themselves, “Who is
this that even the wind and waves obey him?” Didn’t the Lord say that they
were going to the other side? How could they not make it then? This is similar
to today’s crisis. The waves are crashing and circumstances and situations look
dire. The storms are out of our control. Many people are fearful of dying.
We can look at the wind and waves and torrential rain and thunder and lightning
that’s flooding our boat. The question is not “What’s in your boat?” The
real question is “Who’s in your boat?” In the midst of the storm we look to
Jesus Christ ... He is the captain of our salvation. He is the author and
finisher of our faith.
In the midst of the storm, Jesus
will teach us that our prayer is not, “Lord, deliver me from the storm.”
Rather our prayer is, “Lord, deliver me through the storm.” Through
the crisis of the storms of life, including COVID 19, He will teach us the
meaning of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in
the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In
all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Through the trial, He will
teach us that our purpose is that we should be to the praise of the glory of
His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
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