Keep your eye on the road
The reports on the news of the C V(corona virus) are somewhat disturbing and can grow to be debilitating if left to themselves.
The 24 hour news cycle climate we’ve grown to live in and be accustom too, has created the endless political media battle as to not waste a good crisis if you can use it to your advantage.
Both political parties attempt to use this strategy and if we the church are to be honest with ourselves, we reluctantly sit back in disgust! Simply watching and allowing rather than taking action!
I can remember watching movies and documentaries from World War II. As the Germans march the Jews to the concentration camps. Like lambs, they went peacefully all the way to their demise.
They were and are Gods chosen people, they could’ve called on God and rose like mighty lions instead of lambs and overcame their circumstances!
Why didn’t they?
We are and have been chosen also as Gods chosen people, we can call on God and rise up like lions instead of lambs and overcome our circumstances! Why don’t we?
Psalms 91 The Message (MSG)
1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence,
spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow,
Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.
I trust in you and I’m safe!”
That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
under them you’re perfectly safe;
his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
drop like flies right and left,
no harm will even graze you.
You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God’s your refuge,
the High God your very own home,
Evil can’t get close to you,
harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels
to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you;
their job is to keep you from falling.
You’ll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
14-16
“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God,
“I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust me.
Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!”
The church looks and is distracted by circumstances, instead of focusing on the One who rules over every circumstance! There is only one thing we should be looking at, in every juncture of life and that’s God!
God is the only One who can make bad times and bad circumstances better! God is the only One who can make good times and good circumstances even better!
So many times we look to God in hard times and circumstances and God being the faithful caring father that he is sees us through those difficult times.
And the moment things turn around for the better, we become satisfied with the results and slip back into the autopilot mode of a life of mediocrity.
When the truth is nothing is average about God! So why would we as Gods children be expected to live just an average life? God has so much more He is willing too do and also wanting too, give us!
The question is do we want the life God has for us and are we willing to both accept it and pursue it?
Not everyone is willing, in fact some hear, experience and even taste the good God has for them and still choose another path!
Luke 15:20-21 MSG
20-21 “When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’
22-24 “But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time.
The Scripture says when he was a long way off his father saw him. For his father to see him, his father had to be doing one thing didn’t he? His father had to be looking for him!
How many times do you suppose that father went to his front porch and look down that long dusty road for his particle sons return? How many times do you suppose both neighbors and family told the father you’re wasting your time? How many times do you suppose that father played his own Psalms 91 version of prayer for his wayward son?
In times of trouble we either succumb to the circumstances, or we ask God to make the circumstances succumb to the diligence of faith we place in His overcoming ability!
I believe there was not one moment of the day, the proticals father didn’t have at least one eye on the road leading back to the way home! I’m sure he also kept to his daily duties and carried on with his life, for he was a successful man.
The father didn’t stop living life and the father never stopped the diligence of his faith for his sons return! Far to many are to easily distracted by their circumstances! We are created in the image of God, which means we have Gods attributes, which means we were designed to walk and chew gum at the same time!
As far as us in our daily lives as we face the media report of concern for our health. Yes we should take precautions in our hygiene, but more importantly live our lives for the Kingdom of God and be counted in the circle of faith, trust and the diligence of both!
Like the proticals father, carry on and look to and trust God at the same time, knowing God will take care of our situations!
There are believers all over this world who are praying right now for a miracle and for a cure to what the whole world is facing! And God is duty bound by His word to deliver the miracle of deliverance!
2 Chronicles 7:14 Living Bible (TLB)
14 then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.
To search for something means again you have to be actively looking for something! We as the father lived his life, but also kept his focus on path his miracle would be delivered on, must do the same!
Just as the miracle of the sons return happened, the miracles of what our request will happen as well, if we faint not!
Let our prayer be though, as the miracle of deliverance comes as it did for this prodigal son. To not let miracle of the crisis fad so easily!
As the returned son found out, his father didn’t want him to have a lesser life than before he left. his father didn’t want him to have the same life as before he left.
Luke 15:22-24 MSG
“But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time.
His father didn’t want his son to have a life of mediocrity, his father wanted him to have a better life than he did before! God wants the same for all of us!
John 3:16 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who so ever should believe on him should not parrish, but have everlasting life!
Our journey of everlasting life begins with salvation, God wants us to live our best life going forward from that moment!
In John 10:10 Jesus said these powerful, promise filled words
“The accuser comes to seek, kill and destroy, but I have come to give life and life abundantly!”
God wants us to live our life, God wants us to live the abundant life! Our focus on God is where our best life springs from!
Let us realize as the prodigal, the miracle of deliverance will be amazing, but it won’t be the last step in the victory of overcoming life’s circumstances.
Amazingly enough, it will be if we are willing to enter into the lavish celebration of abundant life and blessings God has arranged for us, only the first!
God has so much more in store for each and everyone of us! Help us step out in faith, into the unknown of the more!
