August 12
Neh 3:15-5:13 | PS 32:1-11 | Prov 21:5-7 | 1 Cor 7:25-40
Our situation was not unique. In fact, when we view what we went through it is laughable when compared to the circumstances of so many others in history. Yes, the masks have finally come off and most people eventually left the safety of their homes after being confronted by a pandemic with less than a 1% death rate at its worst moments. The fear surrounding this past event and the response was shocking. Sadly, the next "catastrophic" event is likely right around the corner. The past reaction was one of fear. Fear represents a lack of trust in our God and should be repented of. So many said that they did such and such to protect their loved ones, or to be a good citizen. Sorry, for the most part this sounds like false altruism. The words being spoken and the faces of fear were inconsistent. What we witnessed was massive fear over harm to self. Unless we recognize this, especially by those of us who like to consider ourselves Christian, we will all fall for the next thing to come our way.
Though Paul was speaking largely about marriage and relationships, we read in 1 Corinthians 7:31-32, "...For the form of this world is passing away. But I want you to be without care...". Paul reminded his audience that our focus needs to be on God, not ourselves. God and heaven are constants, but everything that we hold onto so firmly on earth is passing. Nehemiah was leading a group of people who were surrounded by enemies who had openly professed their desire to kill them. So real was their threat that they worked with one hand on the wall of Jerusalem, and held their weapons with the other, yet we read his words of encouragement in Nehemiah 4:14, "And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” Fear is eradicated when we "Remember the Lord, great and awesome"
David prayed to God after his sin of adultery and murder in Psalm 32:3-5, "When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin." Selah" You might think that comparing what David did and what all those who hid behind masks and in the cloisters of their homes is like comparing apples and oranges. But, though the effects might be vastly different, they both stem from removing our eyes off of God and placing them on ourselves. Ultimately, much of our sin stems from not truly trusting God. We must remember that partial obedience is disobedience. We must remember that God is in control, always. When one dies, God knew about it way before anyone else did, as that individual's days were all counted by God before there was yet one (Paraphrase of Psalm 139:16). Trust in God, and fear evaporates, because our eyes will be on Him and His abilities, rather than our feeble attempts to avert an issue.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: