The virus is sickening . . .
The stock market is crashing . . .
Oil prices are plummeting . . .
Earthquakes are happening . . .
Panic is rising . . .
Politics are dividing . . .
People are screaming . . .
I’ve seen the statements on social media . . . on news articles . . . the “get right or get left” statements . . . the fights over what the next step should be . . . the fear driven, anger laced, back and forth . . .
And to it all, what I want to say more than ever, is this . . .
JESUS LOVES YOU!!!
He didn’t come and die and rise again just to scare you into heaven and keep you out of hell. He didn’t just come to point a finger at you and call you a “dirty sinner”. He came to wash you white as snow. He came to wash me white as well. He came to do far more than just get you and me into heaven. He came to bridge the gap. He came because he wants a very intimate relationship with us. He came because He loves us.
“There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. The have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:10-12
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness because in His forbearance God passed over the sins that were previously committed to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26
This is not bad news but very good news. No matter how badly I’ve messed up or how terrible the world gets, Jesus loves me and wants an intimate relationship with me. He loves you and wants an intimate relationship with you.
I’ll say it once again for the people in the back, I do NOT for a millisecond think God brought on this virus (or any natural disaster or calamity) to draw us to Him, but I do think He can use it for His good. I believe He can use it to draw people to Him. Bad things happen because we live in a fallen, sin filled world. We are not promised a life free of tribulation, but as Jesus told us we can have peace and should “be of good cheer” for He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33).
As we approach Easter, there is so much uncertainty, and we wonder if we will be able to gather to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, but this I can promise, whether we gather collectively in a church building or virtually in our homes, Jesus is still King. He still rose again, and He’s still coming again. I don’t know exactly when. My heart tells me soon, but I also know that my focus shouldn’t be on the day of His coming but instead, should be on telling others of His love for them.
In times of heartache and heartbreak . . . in times of fear and catastrophe . . . He is our salvation in every way. And it’s not super complicated. All you have to do is cry out to Him . . . cry out to Him to be your forgiveness, your redemption, your Savior.
I’ll leave you with the words from one of my favorite hymns. I pray they bring peace in the turmoil. I pray you turn your face toward Him and seek Him. Not just for what He can give you, but for who He is.
“The Love Of God”
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair, bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin
Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song
As sung by Mercy Me, 2002 Original Words and Music Frederick M. Lehman, (1917), copyright 1923
Copyright 2020, Courtney G Davis, All Rights Reserved The writings and images contained within this site are the intellectual property of this writer unless otherwise noted, and may not be copied or used without express permission of the author.
Courtney's Contemplations . . . 