Living Life on Lockdown
Let’s just be honest—having everything shut down stinks. As I write this, we have just canceled all services and activities through the end of March, and realistically, April isn’t looking too good. But it’s more than just an inconvenience. People have lost their jobs; families are struggling to keep their small businesses afloat; and others have seen their retirement savings hit hard as the market tumbles. Teachers are desperately trying to move their classes online and High school and college seniors are scrambling to graduate—which they may have to do from home. Not to mention all the seniors seeing their final season playing their sport ended without getting to finish it. About the only silver lining I can see is that UVA will be the reigning national champion in basketball and lacrosse for another year. But even that feels hollow.
I was looking through Scripture this morning and saw the 23rd Psalm. began to wonder if David had written it today if it might sound a little different:
365 times in Scripture it says not to fear. I believe God gave us humor to help insulate us from overwhelming fear. When you’re laughing, it helps keep fear at bay. Job 8:21 says, “He will fill your mouth with laughter.”
While it’s important to keep a sense of humor, we do need to take the situation seriously, and that’s why we’ve canceled our gatherings for the time being. Part of loving your neighbor is not getting him sick. But we don’t need to fear. God is still on the throne, and while the effects of the coronavirus threat are serious, ten thousand years into eternity, it will be a microscopic blip in our memory. And that is all the more reason to try to help those around us who don’t know Christ meet Him. Because He has the cure for the only disease that truly matters—sin. That’s what we celebrate at Easter.