Wednesday, April 22, 2020

I’m in the third viewing of a PBS documentary entitled, “A History of Christianity.” It’s an insightful investigation into the origins of the faith, not usually found in traditional Bible study. I had thought it a good piece for today’s offering here on “Peace in HIs Presence.” But I changed my mind. Once again, I find myself drawn to the current crisis and our view of the crisis within the context of our faith. I’ll save the history lesson for another day.

We continue in an unfathomable time of adversity, uncertainty and mixed messages regarding a way out of this COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps you’ve seen the televised ad uttered in otherworldly tones  that this is Science’s golden moment; that when all else fails, it will be Science that saves us. It references the urgent search underway for medicines, antidotes and vaccines  that will end the viral war in which we are engaged. I flinch when I hear it. As a Christian believer, I refute the implication that science in and of itself will save us. It will be God working in and through those scientific efforts that will save us. He is the  omnipotent One who will give power to the experimental efforts and research directed toward cure and prevention, or not.

Over the centuries, I think we Christians, especially in the western world,  have grown soft in our understanding of the faith. When adversity strikes and our ability to stop its onslaught is stymied or falters, we seem to lose our identity. Oswald Chambers writes, “The pain would be removed from many an agonizing trial if only I could see what Job saw during his time of severe affliction, when all earthly hope lay dashed at his feet. He saw nothing but the hand of God...” ( My Utmost for HIs Highest) And because this biblical ancestor saw God in everything, he  could utter those memorable affirmations during his darkest of days – “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21) and “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10)

As we confront this siege of coronavirus, we are wise to understand that the hand of God is behind it; as it is behind everything that happens, whether good or bad. It was Job’s faith that gave him the courage to embrace the severity of his circumstances without sin or turning away from God. As difficult as it may be in this 21st century that elevates reason over the Christian concept of faith, we followers of Christ must look beyond the statistics of infections and deaths and see the hand of God behind them. This is not the time to doubt God or question what He allows. Our faith pushes “why?” aside. And like Job we accept both good and trouble. We are empowered by Jesus’ own words that in the world we will have trouble; but we are not to lose heart or fall into despair for He has overcome it.

Love. Joy. Peace.