One
of my all-time favorite novels to read and to teach is A TALE OF TWO CITIES by
Charles Dickens.
“It was the best of times, it was the
worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was
the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of
light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the
winter of despair.”
WHEW! In many ways, the last few weeks have that
same feeling...total contradictions of feelings and reactions. Because of the
virus, some of us have been glad to have time at home to spend with children or
to complete overdue projects or to communicate with family or friends on Zoom
or FaceTime. Maybe you have done an in-depth Bible study that interested you
for a long time.
But...perhaps
you were of the group who had the feelings of total “incredulity” that so much of America could come to a stop so
quickly. You might feel despair because of lost work, or a lost business, or
illness. Some of us are frustrated because of “needless” restrictions that are
“one size fits all.”
And
then the tornadoes! Loss of so much ...unbelievable! GBC and GBA swept away in
minutes. Neighborhoods devastated. Then unjustifiable
death and national unrest on top of it all!
Recently
I heard a pastor pray: “BE BUSY IN ME,
LORD, during this time.” On Christian radio I heard the word “clarifying.” These upside down days should clarify where I
stand in my faith. Put these last few weeks in perspective with our
Almighty Heavenly Father.
Psalm 121:2: “My help is
from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.”
What does the Holy Spirit need to stir
in us, to be busy in us? Do
we need to remember basic truths? Isaiah
53:6a: “ALL we like sheep have gone astray.” There is no exception. We are ALL SINNERS.
But
God does not leave us there...Isaiah
53:6b: “...and the LORD has laid on HIM (JESUS) the iniquity of us ALL.”
Remember Who this Jesus is. Isaiah 53:3:
“despised” “rejected” “A Man of Sorrows” “acquainted with grief.” But He not
only knew His own grief, (vs. 4) HE BORE ALL OF OUR GRIEF AND OUR SORROWS...even
the virus, tornadoes, death! Amazing Savior!
If you do not know Him, this is the perfect time to see Jesus is ready
to forgive your sins and save you. You need Him as a solid, unchangeable,
truthful foundation for chaotic times.
BE BUSY IN ME, LORD. As we have been “sheltered in,” “locked down,”
“staying at home,” this can lead to thinking only of ourselves. We can be
content to just “stay in.” Venturing out might be “harmful.” I think we have to
be concerned that we might have lost some of our OUTWARD FOCUS. We must
remember our family members who still need the Lord; our neighbors who need
encouragement. Then further outward...
BE BUSY IN ME, LORD, AND HELP ME TO REMEMBER the persecuted Church. We
think it is sad to miss a few weeks with our brothers and sisters at our
churches. The persecuted Church (to quote Brother Andrew’s secretary) “does not
just go from 9 to 5.” They are under
danger of losing their lives moment by moment. Our chaos in America will
subside and the rebuilding of GBC and GBA will begin. Pray for our brothers and sisters who see no
end to their distress.
One
more thing...our Eurasia Bible Ministry with BIMI has given out about 2 million
Bibles over several years in almost 30 different languages in places like
Russia and Eastern Europe and Asia. Pray for those Bibles...possibly
just sitting on a shelf in homes that need Jesus. Pray that people will pick them up and read
of God’s love for them.
--Maylou
Holladay
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