Raise Your Hand If You’re an Oppressed, Greedy, Deceiver

Our human sense of justice tends to simplify people into two categories: good guys and bad guys. From analyzing Wild West movies to powerful men in American history, we have a tendency to see things through a dichotomy that reduces truth down into one group that is pure evil, and another that is pure victim. 

But that’s not how the Bible presents people. We are not either sinner or sinless. God’s evaluation of the people of Jerusalem in Jeremiah shows us people are more complex than simply oppressor and oppressed. 

“For thus says the Lord of hosts: “Cut down her trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. This is the city that must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Undoubtedly, the evil of oppression is hated by God. God established authority structures for good. Those blessed with power are also burdened with great responsibility to use it wisely and selflessly. Those in Jerusalem had not only failed to do that, but had begun preying on the powerless for evil gain, and for this sin among others, God was bringing fierce judgment. 

But if Jerusalem is being judged for the sin of oppression, shouldn’t we get the oppressed out before the siege comes? It wouldn’t be fair to punish the victims alongside the perpetrators. 

Except that the Bible makes it clear that the victims of oppression in Jerusalem were not at all without sin themselves.  

“For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭6‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

“Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭9‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

And so we have an interesting group of people in Jerusalem. We might call then oppressed, greedy, deceivers. Other passages reveal they were also committing the great evil of idolatry, giving worship and thanksgiving to that which was not God, turning away from the one true God and placing their trust and faith elsewhere through gross means like child sacrifice.

No, the oppressed in Jerusalem were certainly not without sin. They too rightly deserved the fierce judgment of God.

This is a hard pill to swallow for us. Especially when we find ourselves on the receiving end of oppression. Our sense of justice rightly sees the wrong done, and wrongly begins to assume we are without sin. 

I suspect that we too are often oppressed, greedy, deceiving, idolators. It does us good to remember this reality, and also our deservedness of the same punishment as those who are wronging us.

“as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12)

Praise be to Christ, who took on the just punishment that oppressor and oppressed alike deserve. Whether we have clarity of our full sinfulness or not, Jesus has taken on the wrath of God on our behalf, that we might stand before the judgment seat in the truly righteous robes of Christ if we place our trust in him alone.

We will not find salvation because we have been wronged. And we will not be counted righteous because we have not committed the sin of oppression. We, like all others, are not good and require the rescue from one who truly is. 

As we rightly pursue justice on earth, may we rejoice in the reality that just judgment is not doled out to us. We are given the open invitation to trade our lot with that of perfect Jesus. Trust in Him today, friend. He alone is worthy.

Kissing Foreheads

Through quiet night, soft yellow light falls on the stillness of rest. 

Peace manifests as a clear brow, parted lips, warm breaths. 

I gently stroke fine hair away to plant a kiss of love and care for this fragile soul. 

Here the similarity ends. 

I stroke one cheek, plump and soft. 

I stroke another, sunken and stubbled. 

In one body, growth and health. 

In the other, deterioration and death. 

My son debuts into life. 

My father makes his slow exit. 

I give and receive life,

Blessed in the middle,

Kissing foreheads. 

The Grace of God in My Father's Passing

I don't know that I will ever have the words to capture all that the Lord has done in our lives these past two years, but I want to document them to remember, to praise God, to give thanksgiving to Him. My memories are already fading, but may my praise and gratitude go up as incense to the Lord forever. 

This is not what you include in a eulogy. It is not what you want people to highlight or for people to even know about your dad, but it is the truth. My father, was not perfect, as no man is. He was always the most loving and sacrificial father, selflessly serving and sticking to his virtues with awesome integrity. But there were sins, the type of anger or meanness that most everyone could fall into, often typical of Korean men. Maybe it was the liver toxins that aggravated him more. Maybe it was the culture he grew up in to not find these types of sins worth repenting over, but it made me sometimes question why the Lord had not transformed him into Christ-likeness. With fear of eternity, it made me wonder whether he was a virtuous church man, or truly saved. 

My sister and I, being unsure, prayed that the Lord would do whatever it took to rid him of these stubborn sins. That we would get to see more fruit, more adoration for Christ, more delight in His Word, more love for eternal things. If he wasn't yet saved, save him. If he was truly saved, may he be further sanctified to live in a manner that made us no longer doubt in any way. Bring sanctification, with whatever refining fire it takes. 

And the Lord answered. 

At first, we saw the steadfast faith of a man who did not fear death, because he knew firmly where his faith and trust lay, in the finished work of Jesus Christ. We saw a man who looked at a diagnosis of stage 4 liver cancer, already metastasized to the lymph nodes, and still believed unwaveringly in a God who is able to save and will save if He so desires.  

Then, when the pain and suffering came, we saw a man who turned not to screens or sleep for distraction, but dove into the Word. Faithfully leading family worship with his wife every night. Listening to worship music and literally crying out to the Lord all day. Though he had more reason to than ever before, he did not lash out in irritation. Though I would've watched tv to make the hours fade away, he worked when he could, and rested in the truth of the Lord when he could not. 

I can't pinpoint when it began to occur, but we began to see the fruit of the Spirit as laid out in Scripture. Through the cancer, God showed us the kindest version of my dad, the gentlest, the most self-controlled, the most forgiving, the most loving. A dad who apologized to me and encouraged me, when I was the one who had foolishly lashed out at him. A dad who reminded us constantly of his love and gratitude. 

Finally, when his strength was giving way and his body could no longer do the many things he wanted to, my dad's clear priority was to worship God. Every ounce of effort went to making it to church on Sunday morning and Wednesday night. All his breath went to singing the praises of God. And in the last days on his death bed, the best of his concentration went to listening to the preaching of the pastor during his visits. 

There's so much more that the Lord has granted in this season that I want to remember and be grateful for:

• That we never had to agonize over medical decisions. There was always a clear next step, and when there were no more steps to take, being home and being comfortable was the obvious choice. Everyone was in agreement. 
• His pain was only pain. And there is medication for pain, and we had it. He did not suffer from anything that could not be relieved by medication. 
• He had finished his core responsibilities as a father. He had raised two daughters, married them off, and seen them established with God-fearing husbands and children to love. 
• He had prepared well. He had all his account emails and passwords written down. He had social security benefits lined up for his wife. He had retired and sold his business just a year before he got sick. He had even already purchased a grave plot decades before. He always prioritized taking care of us in every way possible.
• He did not suffer during the middle of COVID. He had family and church all around him. We could visit and come and go and enjoy time together. Hundreds were able to come to his funeral and celebrate his life and the way he had poured out his generosity on all of us. 
• I got to be with him in his last weeks of life. I got to take care of him, hold him physically up, use the body he gave me to bear his weight. We joked every time I helped him stand up from the bed and shuffle over to his wheelchair that it was time again to dance together. I got to hold his hand and stroke his hair as we did the things for him that he did for me when I was a baby.
• I got to sing hymns to him. I got to give him as many kisses on the cheek and forehead as I pleased. I got to say goodnight to him with Martyn 3 nights before he passed, telling him I loved him, and letting my son say so as well. I got to hear him say I love you to both of us, when I hadn't even been sure that he was able to listen. 
• I got to come when my mom called in worry when he had a last spasm of pain 2 nights before he passed. I got to be the one to reassure him, and tell him it was going to be okay, and that we saw he was in pain and would bring more medication. I got to crush and ready the pills that brought him relief. I got to pick them up for free from the pharmacy. I got to advise my mom whenever a new pain came as to which combination would be wise. 
• I got to call Kaiser Hospice whenever a new problem arose. I got to advocate when his pains weren't best cared for, when his issues weren't prioritized. I got to translate for my mom and be there with her, even if it was just on the phone. I got to comfort them both, making sure they knew their daughter was doing all she could to make sure they got what they needed.
• I got to hear his wisdom in the last few months with new ears to hear. I was an adult, talking to another adult. I was a spouse, talking to a man who had long learned what makes a good spouse. I was a parent, talking to a dad and grandpa who had always advised well, without forcing his opinion to be obeyed. 
• We got to hear from the hospice nurse, that there was truly nothing else we could have done. That we had not made a mistake to make him like this, we had done everything right, that his time had simply come. That he was in comfort now and would be resting until it was time to truly leave us. 
• All his friends got to come. They all had a chance to sit by his bed, say their thank you's and goodbyes, and their presence was a reminder once again of how beautifully my dad had lived, loving others so joyfully and giving himself to them. 
• He heard and understood that my sister was not yet there. He waited, knowing he had to hold on until she came. Her flights were changed in time. My husband made it in time. Our children were watched by their loving fathers, allowing me and my mom and my sister to be at his hands and face as he took his last breaths. 
• I got to hold his hand and tell him how grateful I was for everything he did, tell him how wonderfully he lived his life, as the life passed out of him. As the angels ushered his soul into glory. 

There is much else to be thankful for, and I am sure I'm missing some of them, but this last confidence is what I praise God most for. That we know where he is, in eternal glory before God. That we got to glimpse the blazing, sanctifying work of the Father, the answers to our prayers. That we lived with the most beautiful and Christ-like version of our father in his last days. 

If you've read any of these thoughts, may this be left with you - pray not against cancer, against suffering, or against even death. Welcome it, should it bring about with it the faith and regenerating work of the Spirit. For it is better to lose the whole world, and gain Christ, than to lose your own soul. 

Why I Waste My Time on Instagram

 The shortlist:

1. I don't love what is good
2. I enjoy what is not good
3. I don't look in the mirror closely, and when I do I turn away forgetting what I've seen
4. I forget what my mission and duty is
5. I am untrained

Why am I sharing this post?: 

• Because maybe you are also wasting your time (on IG or any other relatively fruitless activity), and maybe this will prompt you to consider why and how it may be combated. 
• Because I am prone to forgetting, and writing and posting helps me to bring truth to mind. 

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"Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

and give me life in your ways."

Psalm 119:37

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I don't love what is good

I am prone to rest in fruitless things, because I don't love what is better. The Psalmist loves God's Word and meditates on it all the day (Ps 119:97). God's Word is sweeter than honey (119:103). It brings joy to the heart (119:111). It is better than the dopamine hit of a pretty travel scene on an IG Reel. 

I enjoy what is not good

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked (Ps 1:1a), nor binges on the influencer content of sinners, nor is absorbed by the TikTok dance videos of scoffers, but his delight [should be] in the law of the Lord. The litmus test should not necessarily be if my conscience is guilt-stricken by the first view of the content. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. I should not be dominated by (addicted to) anything (1 Cor 6:12). If the content is not beneficial to my soul, and if I repeatedly spend more time than intended, then I should no longer consume it. 

I don't look in the mirror closely, and when I do I turn away forgetting what I've seen

I walk around with the cowlick of lacking self-control, and the snotty nose of justifying sin by comparing my behavior with that of other sinners, but fail to recognize my unkempt appearance if I do not readily hear, meditate, apply, and do God's Word (James 1:22-25). And if I manage to glimpse myself in the mirror of His Word, I often forget what must be addressed and go on my way without change. I must continuously hear and do God's Word to be cleaned up and made more into the image of Christ by His grace. 

I forget what my mission and duty is

My mission is to preach the good news and teach all that the Lord has commanded to eternal souls (Matt 28:19-20). My duty is to rise early, look well to the ways of my house (Prov 31:15, 27), love my husband and son, and have self-control (Titus 2:4-5). My brethren in Christ rely on me to pray for them (Eph 6:18), speak truth to them (5:19), bear their burdens (Gal 6:2), do good for them as I have opportunity (6:10). If the mission and duty is harmed and not helped by my screen time, I must change my way for the sake of those I desire to serve. 

I am untrained 

Reading the Word is not easy, the flesh does not desire it. It requires actual mental effort and diligence. I must train toward godliness (1 Tim 4:7-8), immerse myself in practice (4:15) and persist (4:16). 

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" But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.."

Galatians 5:16-17

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Disclaimer: My temptations are not your temptations. Exhortations for me, may be temptations for you (if you are prone to a self-critical nature, or works-righteousness, or serving others to the detriment of yourself). Let the Holy Spirit pierce your heart through the Word of God and convict you of what you must repent of, and delight you in what you must fix your eyes on in this season. I am not pursuing asceticism, advocating for NO time on IG or some other leisure activity. I am exhorting myself because I have spent too much time, to the extent of wasting time. The exact amount, and type of time spent, which denotes idolatry, is different for you than it is for me. Again, let the Word of God speak truth to your particular situation and ask the Spirit to give you right convictions. 

To the girl I met at Disneyland

Who we shared a table with, before I found out she was going into her 2nd year at UCSD. 

Did I tell you I met the Lord in La Jolla? 

I’m listening to some sweet worship music after a quick workout, and the combination of sweat, cold air, and worship music in my earbuds took me back to riding home on my bike from RIMAC. The cold downhill wind will forever be associated with meditating on and rejoicing in what to me was new truth, ancient truths. 

One day, Lord-willing, you will have days full of work hours, little ones requiring your constant attention, love, and correction. They will be sweet days of sanctification, but they will not be full of vast stretches of time to dwell on the Lord. 

You are living a precious and limited commodity. 

Wake up early and go to the cafe. Sit down and open God’s Word and see and taste that the Lord is good. Even when your flesh doesn’t want to, ask your Heavenly Father to open up wondrous truths in his law. 

Write down your reflections and worship. Ponder the perfection of God’s sovereignty. Weep over your undeservedness of his grace. Marvel in his beauty. 

Binge-watch the sermons! Study whole books of the Bible in days and weeks. Talk about what you’re discovering with the eternal souls around you. Feel the exultation of testifying of Christ’s goodness. 

Flee sin. Cry out to the Lord for Grace to obey and be changed. Rejoice in his provision when you conquer temptation. 

Read Revelation. Understand the myriad aspects of soteriology. Ask the questions, and search the Scriptures for the answers. Humble yourself to declare what you find as truth, to be good. 

Future days will bring trials and blessings that will make you love the Lord and cling to him even more. But you will do so better with a foundation under your feet of the never changing and never failing Word of God. Rejoice and enjoy the God of your youth. 

May I be regarded as a servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God

You're scrolling through social media and you see something that makes you say "wow, so ignorant." You have disdain and shake your head because of how little that person knows about the world. 

Pause. Let's test our thoughts against Scripture. 

First off, if the knowledge that person lacks is something of pure biblical truth:

• "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" (1 Cor 4:7b)
  Soul, humble yourself and recognize that any knowledge you have has been graciously given to you.
• If that person is a Christian: "What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." (1 Cor 3:5-6)
  Be a servant unto your brother, water with truth. Pray God will grant growth. 
• If that person is not a Christian: "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor 2:14)
  Pity the soul who cannot understand the truth of God. Pray for the Spirit of God which teaches men's hearts not through human wisdom. 

But if the "knowledge" that person lacks is extra-biblical about our world: (scare quotes because I know you all will disagree on what might fall into this category. Here are a few examples of what you might believe to be foolishness - a lack of understanding of structural racism, a lack of awareness of leftist media overblowing COVID, a lack of alarm at civil unrest and government power grabs, a lack of compassion for grieving families, a lack of education on historically racist policies and practices, etc.)

• "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” (1 Cor 3:18-20)
  Soul, let prideful thoughts against others about their lack of wisdom in extra-biblical matters serve as a red flag. Am I enjoying and pursuing the praise of other men who agree with me on these matters? Have I forgotten the utter depravity the Lord has brought me out of with His gracious hand? Have I placed my hope in earthly solutions, forgetting the victory in Christ?
• "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." (1 Cor 4:1) 
  Beware being regarded as wise in this world. Christ crucified is a stumbling block to religious people and folly to the intellectual world (1 Cor 1:23). May the world not look to us merely for wise opinions on earthly matters. May we be known as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Does History Have Its Eyes On You?

Christians in the US are in a moment of extreme opinions. Extreme variety: brothers and sisters who love and trust in the same Lord Jesus hold an amazingly wide array of opinions on everything from masks to social justice. Extreme intensity: brothers and sisters (myself included) feel deep emotion and righteousness in their opinions. Why? I think we recognize ourselves to be in a historic moment. We are dealing with issues of great importance and significance for generations to come. Because of this, I will be honest and admit that sometimes my opinions can be motivated in part by wanting to be “on the right side of history.” Or maybe I just want to be right, and proven right by history. Regardless, the truth is I don't plan to do anything incredible with my life, so honestly, history will quickly forget me. And even if history were to see me in this moment, I must not fear its judgment because history is men. Friend, do not fear men. Fear instead the one who has authority over your eternal soul. (Luke 12:5). 

Whose view of you are you considering when you act today?

In our Titus 2 study led by Becky Savastio, we have been taking a look at the brethren noted at the end of Colossians. These names are easy to gloss over, folks who just get a line or two here and there in the Bible. Tychicus. Onesimus. “Faithful ministers and beloved brothers” (Col 4:7,9). In the years and decades to come,  my end goal is not to be right about whether or not masks are a necessary discomfort or unconstitutional evil. No one, not even I, will judge myself based on how much I posted about social justice on my private Instagram account of a couple hundred followers. When I look back on 2020 in the years and decades to come, my sincere hope is that God would work in me to make me a faithful minister of His truth and beloved sister to His children. 

By His standard, and for His Kingdom. 

May I be known by my brethren for faithfully working for the Kingdom alongside them, encouraging their hearts and being a comfort to them (Col 4:7, 8, 11). I'd much rather continue on my way as what my fellow Titus 2 study sisters have deemed me "Zoom Nympha" (Nympha is mentioned in Colossians for hosting the church in her house) for a humble group of 10. I want to forget my own desire to be right and be recognized as right by a fleeting posterity, and instead strive forward until the day my Savior and King welcomes me into the eternal gates of glory. May I then be found wearing His robes of righteousness, to hear the words “my good and faithful servant.” 

Lord, help me to keep my eyes fixed on that eternal reward. 

The repentance of a Korean-American favoritist

My husband informed me a few nights ago that in 1991 a 51 year old Korean woman who owned a convenience store shot a 15 year old black girl in the back of the head from 3 feet away, and killed her. I'm embarrassed that I did not know this.

My Korean mother is in her 50s, and until last year owned and worked a convenience store.

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I've been wrestling this week. Seeking to have my thoughts and deeds in response to the murder of George Floyd flow out of the truth of God's Word. There are many things that were obvious at first: weeping with those who weep, setting our eternal hope in Jesus Christ who will bring ultimate justice, seeking justice and pleading for the widow. 

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I work for a very liberal non-profit consulting firm. I am very familiar with the language, frameworks, and "religion" of social justice based on cultural Marxism. I've sought to see what is true in these ideas by testing them against Scripture. I've fought against the desire to please man and let my guilt of privilege drive me toward non-biblical solutions. Christian, I plead with you also not to do so. 

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I decided to read more about what happened in that convenience store in 1991. The owner testifies that she saw Latasha Harlins putting an orange juice in her backpack and believed her to be stealing it. She says that she asked Latisha whether or not she was going to pay for it. Two eye witnesses claim she did not ask that question, but instead called her profanities and grabbed the girl's sweater, snatching her backpack from her. Latisha struck the woman twice in the face. The woman took the orange juice from her, and Latisha walked away to leave the store. Soon Ja Du grabbed a gun from under the counter and shot 15 year old Latisha in the back of the head as she was turned away to leave. Soon Ja Du received only five years of probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine for her act of murder.

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I feel grief and shame. If I'm honest, I've hidden behind being Asian-American and well-versed in the language of the left. There is some implicit bias deep in my heart I'm sure, but I have sought to be aware of it and try to dispel my prejudices. I can honestly say that. But my facade of being above reproach was shattered in realizing that a woman who looks like me, who could have easily been my mother, one of "my" people committed such a gross evil and contributed to the grief and just anger of the black community. 

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I am so proud of being Korean American. We joke in our household "Korea #1". Sometimes I break out in the Korean National Anthem just to get a groan out of Isaac. There is no question that I love being Korean-American, and love Korean-Americans. Realizing that Soon Ja Du murdered Latisha Harlins shatters my pride. I am not untouchable. That is a ridiculous thing to say, because of course I'm not. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8) 

I've been trying to do everything right this week, and have so hideously believed that I have had no sin. I want to repent now. But I am not talking about the leftist sins of not naming my privileges, hashtagging black lives matter, or donating to bail protesters out. Please understand me, I do see the evil of systemic racism in the world, and am genuinely praying and working against them, but that is not the heinous evil I've ignored this week. The evil is this: I have favoritism. It is deep in my heart, and I've hidden it under the cloak of "it's so nice to have shared experiences and language" and "Korea is such a scrappy little nation, did you know that they send the most missionaries out to the world second only to the US?" I have valued and preferred and believed Korean-Americans better than others. I have believed my ethnicity better than others. I have believed myself to be more valuable than others. I have believed my life more valuable than the life of another made in the image of God. Oh Lord, forgive me. 

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"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)

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There are many right and biblical responses that must come out of the events of this week. I continue to wrestle with them, but my friend, my friend of every color, I plead with you to join me in this one. Look in your own heart. No matter who you are, you are not perfect before God. See, and repent. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

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https://goexplorethebible.com/blog/adults/3-reasons-god-condemns-favoritism-session-9-james-119-27-21-4/

Sugar and Screentime for Suffering

They say when you have a craving for carbs your brain mimics that of one with a drug addiction. And quite frankly we already know that tv and video games and social media are all designed to get us hooked. 

But if you’re like me, you tend to foolishly approach these dangerous substances as though you are a master of self-control. The number of times I’ve downloaded and deleted Amazon Prime Video tells how often I’ve re-enslaved myself to my tv addiction.   

In the midst of the pandemic we are encouraged to let loose. Quarantine-15. World Health Organization encourages playing video games and Gamestop deems itself an essential business. Even Christian podcasters ask each other “what are you binge-watching lately?” 

These are not things to be indulged in carelessly, friends. Not only are they extremely addictive, they are stubborn idols of the heart that will refuse to step aside once the pandemic has come and gone. 

Now I want to be clear, I am not suggesting a religion of asceticism that says black and white “do not taste do not touch” equals holiness. God has indeed given us many good things in this world to enjoy.

But somehow I found myself stressed out from news headlines and turning to find comfort in a tub of icecream. Watching a movie to forget about it all. I let my minor suffering excuse running to my earthly slave-masters instead of to my God. 

So how does God want us to cope during COVID-19? 

James asks us, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.”

Timothy is told to endure suffering. Be sober minded. And do the work of an evangelist. 

Paul says he suffered the loss of all things and counted them rubbish in order to gain Christ. That in sharing in the sufferings of Christ, he strains forward. He presses on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God. 

The Thessalonians suffer as they are hindered from preaching the gospel, driven out, and even killed for their faithful proclamation. In the midst of this they are seen to be abounding in brotherly love toward one another and commended for their work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in Jesus Christ. They are walking in a manner that pleases God. And Paul prays for them to do so more and more. 

It would be way too simple to say, “Hey! Stop with your carboloading and endless screen time and just go do works of faith.”

We are weak humans who are easily derailed from pursuing righteousness by all manners of suffering. 

But I trust that, as it had to the Thessalonians, the gospel has come to you in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction (1 Thess 1:5). In affliction you have the joy of the Holy Spirit (1:6). You too, have turned to God from idols and serve the living and true God (1:9). Through recent times, the tempter has tempted you (3:5). But you can stand fast in the Lord (3:8). You are to control your body in holiness and honor (4:4). Which you can only do because God has given his Holy Spirit to you (4:8). 

My friends, I desire for you what I desire for myself. That we would not enslave ourselves to sin, but that in every season we would turn to the Lord in prayer and flourish in our faith. 

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (5:23)

COVID-19

Doctors forced to decide who gets a ventilator
Loved ones dying surrounded by strangers
Small business owners financially ruined
Surges in domestic violence
Elderly isolated
This is not how it is supposed to be.

Regardless of your politics, regardless of your religion.
Whether you saw a global pandemic coming,
or still don’t think it is as big as the media says it is.
When you look at the list of things going on today,
somewhere within you cries out, “This is not how it is supposed to be.”

In the short term, I don’t know what “supposed to be” looks like, and I definitely don’t have the answers for how we should proceed from here to get there.
But what if I told you that I know what the long term is, that it is infinitely good, and I know exactly how to get us there?

In a world of unknowns, one thing is for sure, you and I and everyone else will one day die. “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

Well, that doesn’t sound infinitely good, Sharon. Perhaps not, but before we get there, a crucial event will take place. God, (yes, your Creator, who exists as sovereign over the universe whether you regard him or not) will bring out books of your deeds and recall all that you have done in your life. If you have sinned even once, if you have broken a single law against His holy and perfect ways, you will receive eternal judgment. This is horrible and awful forever, but as a good judge upholds the law, it is also perfectly just and therefore good. But this God does not find any pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). He loves his creation, and for those souls who are feeling their smallness in the face of a global pandemic, He sent his own Son, who was and is God, to become a man, live a perfect life, and take on eternal wrath on their behalf (which only he could do because he is God). Jesus did so because he so loved the Father’s people. And he urges you even now, to recognize with a humble heart your guilty condition before the perfect judge, and believe in the perfect sacrifice that was made on your behalf. God has made the way and he asks, why will you die? Why will you not believe this wonderful news and receive the gift of eternal life with Him?

You may not know him yet, but Jesus is better than all that the world can offer you. He is infinitely good, and heaven is in his presence. Eternal life is to know him and be with him. Are you happy with a check for $1000? Will more federal aid give you joy? How about a more socialist form of government ushered in by this crisis? Do you just want the government out of your personal life? Would you be at peace if you could live your life freely again? If your kids can return to public school? If you can see your family again?

Everything in this world is passing away. “As for man, his days are like grass, he blooms like a flower in the field” (Psalm 103:15). It might be a beautiful flower, one worth appreciating and living well, but it is a flower nonetheless that will be gone tomorrow. But what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:26). After this is all over, please don’t put the blinders back on and live each day without regard for eternity. There is infinite good awaiting you in heaven with God. My friend, believe.