"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." Wait a minute, Pastor Dan, you started out with this last week. Yes, I know, but I want to look at this in our present context and with a word that Jesus gave to his disciples in speaking about his second coming. I am asked repeatedly, "Pastor Dan, will things ever get back to normal?" My answer is "Yes," and "No." I don't think we will ever go back to life as we knew it. This virus has changed how we do life and how we will be gathering (or not), how we get groceries (or not).
Let me give you two examples of encouragement from Jesus.
"Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man (his second coming). People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark." (Luke 17:26-27a)
"It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying, and selling, planting and building." (Luke 17:28)
Life will get back to normal. It must. Because it is the precursor to Jesus' coming. The rhythms of life will find there way again. But I struggle in my heart to know if I should rejoice or be grieved. I'm certainly more motivated to follow Jesus and to make him known to others. I want out of this evil, wicked world, but my heart pleads for more time for those I know that are lost.
When the virus hit, people were open to talking about the Lord, about end time issues, about how to change their lives to please God. The crisis provided opportunities. Our little church website that had maybe twenty hits on it has been getting two to three...thousand.
Is this the Fourth Great Awakening (or Fifth; depending on if you count the 1960's Calvary Chapel movement)? Time and history will tell. But given the huge turn that people have had toward the things of God, I happen to think, "yes." However, I firmly believe, evidenced by recent conversations, and my spirit confirming it, that this will be short lived. I believe that this time will produce a multitude of new believers in Jesus but it will be the last before the coming of Jesus for his Church. As quick as people's hearts were open toward the Lord, I am now finding that the door of the heart is quickly closing.
In honesty, I must admit that both of the above scripture passages were incomplete (per my own purpose). May I finish?
"Then the flood came and destroyed them all." (Luke 17:27b)
"But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all." (Luke 17:29).
"It must be just like this [this return to normal] on the day the Son of Man is revealed." (Luke 17:30).
Praying for a return to normal? Be careful and understand what you're praying for.
Maranatha! (1 Corinthians 13:22b) And, Father, bring in those of our family and friends who still need to know your Son, Jesus, as Savior.
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