“yet I will rejoice in the Lord”
Habakkuk 3:18

If it hasn’t already happened, the reality of this COVID-19 stuff will start to hit each one of us. You know, I have been saying that God is using this virus to humble the world. Indeed, he is. He has quieted the entire planet.

Who can blame him when we look at the sin in the world and the blatant disregard of the population to honor or thank him for the good that he has done? But is this a lesson only for heathens? Might not this be a lesson for believers as well?

I’m sure it is. If you’re like me, you thank God for your provision but have come to expect it. We suppose that everything will soon go back to normal, and it probably will. However, I starting to have a glimpse of what life might look like if I lost my job, my income, and my savings.

You know, God could easily do that to me, and I would have nothing to complain about. Remember what Job said?

Job 1:21-22 Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

It’s very important for me to keep a proper perspective. Maybe everything will be taken from me; maybe it won’t. Who am I to complain? Nothing I have was obtained apart from God.

What do I have to fear if I lose everything? Well, that totally depends on my perspective. If I’m concerned of things of this world, I have lots to fear. If I’m concerned about heavenly things, the answer is nothing.

Christian, now is the time to get really grounded in our faith. Do we believe the promises of God, that if we seek him and the kingdom he will provide what we need (Matthew 6:33)? Do we believe that we all can get by with very little (Luke 22:35)? Do we believe that our view of money can get us in all sorts of trouble (1 Timothy 6:10)?

This does not give us license to be careless with that which God has entrusted us (Matthew 25:29). However, when God takes it away, we must keep our heads straight.

So, how do we do this? By focusing on the heavenly. What is God doing right now? As far as I can tell, he has shut the mouth of the entire world. Why? He has done this many, many times before – as a call to repentance. We also see that he calls both the sinner and saint to repentance, one for salvation and the other for sanctification. He also calls us to pray for workers of the harvest and for us to make disciples of all men.

What do you think?

Father, keep me focused. Amen.

Copyright © 2020 Scott Powers