By: Pastor Al
For most life altering events we like to make appropriate preparations. A couple anticipating marriage goes to great lengths to prepare for their wedding. If one is going to be taking a new job or move to a new locality, he will likely invest much effort to prepare for such changes.
Right now all of us are going through a change of momentous proportions, and most of us feel totally unprepared for it. This is part of the angst we are feeling. We were not prepared for seeing shortages in grocery stores, for abruptly losing our job, for the demand for social-distancing, for not being able to go to church, for not even being able to go out for coffee with a friend, for the need to view others with suspicion, for the seemingly longer days, and for all other ways in which our lives have been pulled out of joint by the pandemic.
“None of us were prepared for this, and it can be upsetting and stressful to us. ”
Because we were not prepared for this, we are all struggling for ways of coping with the new circumstances. For those who are single, there is the challenge dealing with lonely solitude. Many senior saints fight boredom and look for worthwhile things to do. Parents have to find meaningful activities to engage their young children and teens. None of us were prepared for this, and it can be upsetting and stressful to us.
This upheaval in our lives is testing all of us as to what it is which gives genuine rest for our souls. I think we are discovering the truth of the famous saying of St. Augustine (A.D. 354 – 430), “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.”
The Heidelberg Catechism expresses a similar thought when it asks of us in Q&A 26, “What do you believe when you say, ‘I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth’?
“I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this sad world.”
A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ the Son. I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this sad world. God is able to do this because he is almighty God and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.
When our hearts take a strong grip on this truth, we will find a new steadiness and fresh courage to deal with the abrupt changes that have been thrust upon us.
Furthermore, we must be careful not to be absorbed by the current trial but must keep in mind the great future for which we now must prepare ourselves. Perhaps the present straits helps us to realize more the urgency to be prepared for the Day of Days when we will stand face to face with the Judge of all men and the earth as we know it will be no more and all things will be made new.
“These trying times are good times for preparing ourselves for that awesome day.”
Life in this world is moving on to that hour when all of history will end at the feet of Jesus. In terms of His Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25: 1-13), our Bridegroom is sure to come. Is it soon midnight when we will hear the cry, “Here is the Bridegroom! Come out to meet Him.” Will we be ready to enter with Him for the marriage feast and after sitting down with Him, He shuts the door? May we heed the warning: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
These trying times are good times for preparing ourselves for that awesome day by keeping a clear conscience, “making our calling and election sure,” and making the most of every opportunity to serve Christ. Though our schedules may be radically altered, let us not waste this time but use it do good, praying much, and finding new ways of being a blessing to others. This time is still preparation time.