Dear Church Family,
Congratulations! You have made it to October. We now enter the last quarter of what has been a remarkable year. As the pandemic began to spread in late winter I titled my newsletter article written in the last week of February, “On Being Hopeful in a Viral World.” Please read it over and grade how your hope in Christ has sustained you over the last seven-plus months.
In recent years the term ‘going viral’ meant that a post on YouTube had been seen by a million people. Now, just the mention of the corona virus causes people to grab the Purell and put on a face mask. Travel plans have gotten scrapped, people are avoiding crowds of any size, the stock market yo-yos wildly and store shelves are empty of ‘survival items’ and cleaning supplies. Has the world gone insane? Am I safe? What is going to happen?
As your pastor, let me give you hope in this time of uncertainty with some facts that will comfort and give you hope.
First, and most important, God is in control! The Bible clearly teaches this. If God is not sovereign over all things, then He is not God. That would leave us without hope. God’s power is greater than any natural or man-made threat to our well-being. Please read Psalm 46 and Job 38-41 to remind yourself of God’s greatness.
Second, God brings glory to Himself in times of crisis. Might we hear news of people coming to faith in Jesus during this viral crisis? People have trusted in government, technology, their own strength and just about anything else for, but those things (idols perhaps?) now fail to deliver the security that many thought they would provide. People want to be saved from the virus that as I write has just above 200 cases in the USA. (That is less than one in a million though the numbers will surely rise.) Thus, the odds of getting the virus, much less dying from it, remain remote. Yet there is a much greater threat to life eternal lurking within every person. That threat is sin. Pray that God will bring many to Himself during this time and be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in you.
Third, God will use this time to grow us His people in faith. Do you really believe that all that God does is for our good and will bring Him glory (Rom. 8:28)? Are you sure He will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5)? Are you able to rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4)? Can you always be joyful, pray without ceasing and give Him thanks in all things (1 Thess. 5:16-18)? God grace is sufficient at all times, especially during a crisis. He will grow us in grace and knowledge of Himself through this time.
While we have this sure hope in Jesus, I do encourage you to take reasonable precautions. It is always good to eat well, exercise, drink plenty of fluid and get sufficient sleep. No one will be offended if you do not shake hands or give a hug. It is also a time to show Christian care to those who may be in need. Look for opportunities to help with a meal or running errands. If not sick, I hope you will make every effort to be in worship to encourage one another and most of all, to give glory to God.
As someone shared with me, “This will either blow up or blow over.” Regardless, our holy God remain in control and will be glorified.
Living by grace to His glory,
Pastor Gillikin