I keep thinking that I wish life would go back to “normal” but what does “normal” look like? And is that what God wants? After all, He has allowed us to be shaken for a reason. We’ve been given a new perspective and our priorities have been realigned.
Where we once thought our heroes were on basketball courts and football fields, we now understand they are in our hospitals. “Essential” has been given a new meaning as we search grocery store shelves for toilet paper and nonperishable foods. Factories that once pumped out fancy new automobiles by the thousands are now making life-saving ventilators. We’ve discovered that our jobs and our investments are on shaky ground. Our social calendars have evaporated and we are finding ways to enjoy the people we live with. We wish we would’ve visited our parents and grandparents more now that we can’t visit them at all. We’ve got an invisible six-foot bubble around us where friendly chit chats that we took for granted used to be. We’re praying for our world and helping when we can. We’ve opened our Bibles and gotten bolder with the name of Jesus. We’ve slowed down. God has gotten our attention!
Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour out on them because of their sins. – Jeremiah 26:3 NLT
So if He chooses to intervene and heal our world, will we be different? Will we start to focus on things that really matter? Will we take time to thank the real heroes? Will we be thankful for the resources God gives us and use them wisely? Will we save and give and share? Will we fill our time with things that bring glory to God? Will we appreciate the people that He puts in our lives and value the moments we have with them? Will we continue to pray for our world and help when we can because there will always be needs? Will turning to God be our first response instead of our last? Will our Bibles remain open and will we still be bold with the name of Jesus because He is always the answer?
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me… I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” – John 14:1,6 NLT
History is full of world events that have shaken up our lives and brought us to our knees. Sadly, we end up forgetting about them once they’ve passed and life is good again. The fresh perspective we were given fades into the past and eventually, God needs to get our attention again. There is a day coming when God will shake up this world for the final time. The natural disasters, famines, and plagues we’ve seen so far do not even compare to the tribulation that is to come. The Bible predicts it and so far, it has a 100% accuracy rate. There are two kinds of people, those who will be spared the tribulation and those who will go through it. If the impact of COVID-19 is just a foretaste, you do not want to be here when the really bad stuff starts to happen.
…all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only the unshakable things will remain. – Hebrews 12:27 NLT
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes (nations) of the earth will mourn over Him [realizing their sin and guilt, and anticipating the coming wrath]. So it is to be. Amen. – Revelation 1:7 (The Amplified Translation)
Turn to Jesus now! Admit to Him that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself. Acknowledge that He died to pay the price for your sins and that He rose again to give you victory. Ask Him to be your Lord and your Savior and to empower you to live your life for Him. If you pray this prayer and mean it, you are saved! Your life will have a new purpose! You will not face the wrath of God and you will spend eternity in heaven with Him. Nothing that happens here on earth will ever change that!
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today or our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39 NLT
Heavenly Father, I pray that you will intervene and heal our world! Show the wonder of Your great love. (Psalm 17:6-7) People need Jesus today more than ever! Protect the doctors and nurses that are sacrificing their own safety to care for the rest of us. Empower the scientists to make medicines and the factories to make supplies. Heal the people who get sick. Give our leaders wisdom and discernment to make decisions that keep us safe yet do not threaten our freedoms. I pray that a multitude will turn to You and be saved! In the name of Jesus, I pray! Amen!
