Living out your faith during uncertain times
Things have been changing quickly in our country. It was only a few months ago that we began to hear about a virus known as Covid-19 that was ravaging China. Recently, we have watched as it has devastated countries such as Italy and it is now impacting our lives here in America. Across the country, businesses are shutting down and we are being told to stay home. As a church, our gatherings are suspended for the time being. When do things reopen? We don’t know. This has impacted us in different ways. For some, it is an annoyance to wait out. Some of you are dealing with frustration at the loss of freedoms that you enjoy. Others are dealing with fear. As Christians, we need to be asking: “What do the people of God do in these times?”
Heroes of the Faith
In Hebrews 11, we are given a list of men and women who would be considered heroes of the faith. Many lived out their faith in the midst of difficult and uncertain times. After commending them for their faith, the author writes in 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” I love that image of “fixing our eyes on Jesus.” It reminds me of two things. First of all, it is a reminder that Jesus is on the throne and he is not panicked viruses, shutdowns, or any crises that we could be facing. Secondly, this crises will pass. Our walk with Christ will endure forever. How amazing would it be if we were to look back on this as a time that we “fixed out gaze” on him and learned to walk with him more closely. How tragic would be if God were using this time as an opportunity for that to happen and if we were to miss it.
The next several weeks will be uncertain and challenging. May we be a people who are “fixing our eyes on Jesus” and we tread on this journey together.
