Last year Easter was really unique
due to the hard lockdown we were under here in South Africa. We had
to stay home and we were not allowed to go to church or to visit
family and friends. Now this year the uniqueness still continues as
we are still under a lockdown, even though we are under level 1. We
can visit family and friends and sort of go to church if you are
fortunate to be within the capacity limit of the church, but we
still do not have the freedom that we had before this virus came
our way. Now I for one didn't think last year Easter time that we
would still be sitting with this pandemic at next Easter. I
honestly thought that if we are under a hard lockdown for 5 weeks,
we can somehow keep the wave down and be free from the virus in no
time. And yet, here we are, a year later and we still do not know
when the end of the lockdown and the detrimental effects on our
lives will be. But fortunately we know the One who does.
God knows the future, He knows what
He is planning for us, and He is a good Father looking out for His
children. If we just read the Bible we see time and again how God
came to the rescue of His people, how He saved the day when they
turned towards Him. There are numerous examples. He saved the
Israelites every single time that they turned to Him, when they
sought refuge from Him. Every single time. It was only when they
followed their own heads and did what seemed right in their own
eyes that things turned south. It was when they turned their backs
on God that they were surrounded by enemies, losing all the
battles. But with Him by their side, no enemy was too great and no
multitude too overwhelming. God fought for them. In one swoop He
took care of their enemies when the Israelites sought refuge under
His wings.
The same is true of us today and
even more so, because Jesus died and took our sins upon Himself. He
paved the way for us so that we can enter into the presence of the
Almighty God all on our own, without any sacrifices. He did it all
for us, to provide a way for us out of the situations we might find
ourselves in.
One thing that I learned during
this pandemic time is that God never leaves us nor forsakes us. He
does allow things, but the way has been paved for us to come to Him
and find our refuge there. He uses every opportunity this world
presents, to help us grow spiritually, so that we can be the
glorious people He intended us to be. His mission is to have sons
and daughters on earth representing Him. For when we represent Him
as the spiritual beings that we are, we would be happy and we would
be spreading His Kingdom at the same time.
The growth process might be
painful, it might be uncomfortable, it might be something you wish
you can skip, but it is all worth it in the end. Getting rid of the
sinful flesh that we are born with is not a pleasant experience.
The flesh doesn't want to be inconvenienced and worse yet, doesn't
want to be cut out. It will kick and scream and throw a tantrum,
but that is exactly what God wants. He wants us free from it, so
that we can be who He really created us to be. Therein lies true
joy and peace everlasting. Therein lies true fulfillment. Walking
on earth as the true son or daughter of God that you were created
to be is the most rewarding and fulfilling life. Nothing can come
close to it. And if COVID-19 caused us to take a better look at our
lives and if it caused our sinful flesh to be uncomfortable and
slowly die, then I can see the bigger picture. Then I can see how
God is working in all of this.
He wants the work that His Son did
for us on the cross to continue even further. Because when we are
examples of what Jesus did for us to a world desperately seeking
for good news and freedom from bondage, then God is so pleased. And
if a pandemic forces our sinful flesh to lash out and then slowly
die, then it is worth it.
Now is the time to shine. Now is
the time to show the world that despite a pandemic suffocating us,
we can still be joyful. Now is the time to give people hope, hope
that there is so much more than this life and what the world can
offer us. Now is the time to spread the Easter message of love,
hope and joy. God is with us, He is a good good Father, who offered
His only Son, so that we all can have life and life in abundance.
Hallelujah!
Father thank you that we can
celebrate Your Son's death, His salvation that He made available to
all of us. We thank you for life and life in abundance that we can
find through Your Son. Please help us to spread Your Good News to
all and to be the example that You want us to be. We love You and
exalt You on high. Amen