I hope you all are coping well as we continue our social distancing and isolationist lifestyles. Some days, I feel like I am having a hard time thinking of the "good" in it all. It's frustrating to be home all the time; you run out of things to "do"; when you go to the store, you feel flustered, trying to follow the guidelines of everything. However, I have been reminded this time will certainly pass and will be logged into the annals of history- as have previous intensive events. I was also encouraged by listening to some writings by Sally Lloyd Jones for children (we have listened to this CD called, "Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing"); she shares a writing regarding "God Time". "God Time" is completely different from our time. She gives the examples of Moses becoming a great leader at the age of 80; Abraham and Sarah having a son at ages 100 and 90! She also shares about the death of Jarius' daughter in the New Testament. Jarius, if you remember, had come to Jesus, requesting Jesus come heal his daughter who was very ill. Jesus followed Jarius, all while being pressed in by the throngs of people who wanted to glimpse, touch, talk to Jesus. As they journeyed to Jarius' home, a woman who had "an issue of blood" for many years attempted to reach Jesus, but because of the crowds, she could not. So, she thought to herself that if perhaps she could just touch the hem of his clothes, she would be healed. She reached out and touched him; immediately, she was healed! (Her faith! Amazing!) Jesus stopped and asked who touched him. The woman came forward and admitted her deed. In this time of "stopping" and "taking his time", Jarius' daughter died. "The timing just wasn't right", I can imagine someone saying. But, Jesus had a plan- as he always does. And, instead of that dear little girl being healed from a sickness, Jesus RAISED HER FROM THE DEAD!
"God Time"- this coronavirus certainly seems "untimely". But, his timing is always "perfect", always good. In fact, these days of waiting for the coronavirus to end and for us to get back to "normal" (which seem like an eternity to us) are but a mere passage of time to God. In fact, the Bible tells us "a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years are as a day" to him (II Peter 3:8). In Psalm 90, we read, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust... For a thousand years in your sight are as but yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night" (verses 1-4). He certainly is not flustered by any of this, thinking that, "Oh, my! Everyone needs to get back to work, etcetera." His sovereign hand guides each of these days, the leaders making the decisions, and the virus itself. Are you trusting and resting in "God Time" right now?
In respect to "God Time", I have also been thinking about what eternity in heaven will be like. In II Peter 3, after declaring the thousand years are as a day bit, Peter writes that "the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise to [us] as some count slowness, but is patient toward [us], not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (verse 9); he reminds us in verse 10, that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.... and the works on the earth will be exposed." Are you prepared for heaven? For eternity? For the "day of the Lord"? He is patient toward us. giving us all chances to repent and come to him; he is using these days to remind people of their mortality. Yet, what are people doing to secure the safety of their souls? People are wearing their masks and cowering in fear of this virus, yet, if they do not know God, their souls are already damned. Be a ray of true hope (as you can!) for the world.
Maybe you have not been taking advantage of the "good life" you have in Christ. Maybe you have wandered from the truth, focusing on your "own time" and your "own ways". I lived this way for a long time. I became caught up in the temporal time, wanting things to happen "my way". And, I brought a lot of heartache and shame to my life. How grateful I am that God has used my desire to control "my time" to make me realize HE alone holds my time in his hands. In that thought, how am I using my time to honor and glorify him? Maybe God is using these uncertain times to make you aware of how little you have done to make his love and goodness evident through you. Have you been living selfishly, wanting to control your circumstances and relationships? Ask God to reveal to you ways you have been living to please yourself and make yourself look good. Confess those sinful areas. Ask him to help you live to bring true goodness to those who have no hope, no good thing in their eternal view.
And, then, what glory for those of us who do know God; we are not living in fear for we know our eternal destination: heaven in all its glory. With its eternal "God Time". We belong to Jesus, and for all eternity, we will sing and praise his name. How wonderful that will be! I wanted to share a song with you; these words are such a comfort and blessing to me: "Oh, hallelujah! Oh, bless His name! Ten thousand years will just begin my song of praise!" A bit mind-boggling, is it not? TEN THOUSAND YEARS seems like such a looooooong time. But, we will only BEGIN to sing the praises of our KING. "Sing it again: I belong to Jesus; I belong to Him!" Hallelujah!
"I belong to Jesus-
What blessed mystery
The vilest of all sinners now
Forgiven and redeemed.
Oh, the depths of darkness
His love would reach down through
To cover me with mercy
And hide me in His wounds. (Side Note: What a mystery- that God would love a soul like me! And, then die, be wounded, for me!)
Oh, hallelujah!
Oh, bless His name!
Ten thousand years will just
Begin my song of praise!
Oh, hallelujah!
Sing it again:
I belong to Jesus;
I belong to Him!
I belong to Jesus;
The cross that once was mine
Became the curse that He would bear
And give to me new life.
I am His forever;
Forever He is mine.
My freedom bought and paid for
By His blood divine. (Side Note: How amazing that we are forever claimed by Jesus. What love! What grace!)
I belong to Jesus;
Oh, hasten now the day
That I behold Your glory
And look upon Your face.
Robed in holy splendor
Like thunder we will stand,
The voice of every saint declaring
Worthy is the Lamb! (Side Note: The Eternal Choir: Won't this be AMAZING!!!!!)
Oh, hallelujah!
Oh, bless His name!
Ten thousand years will just
Begin my song of praise!
Oh, hallelujah!
Sing it again:
I belong to Jesus;
I belong to Him!
Praying for you all! Keep pressing on, with eternity in view, doing your best (by His grace) to honor Him, bless His name, and to make His goodness known to this world who has no hope without Him. For, in that time in eternity, we do not want to be ashamed for what little we did for Him. Bless His name; sing it again- and again- and again!
