COVID–19 shocked the world. People are overwhelmed, anxious, pushed to their limits and asked many significant life’s questions. Even Christians were caught off guard. For the past six months, the pandemic confronted our humanity – the inability to control everything around us, and the reality of our nothingness. Many felt helpless, depressed and afraid. For me & my wife, we looked at this pandemic in a different perspective. We learned about these two vital truths about humanity and our Sovereign and Loving God. These truths are what we held on up to this time.
Our God is the Sovereign Ruler who providentially cares for His people. This is the sole response of my wife when we knew that somebody got infected with the virus in our country. We are trusting the Lord’s sovereign control and providence. We keep on reminding ourselves that even how dark, terrifying and uncertain the future is, our eyes should always be fixed on trusting Jesus. Our Almighty God created the universe with His Words, so what are we afraid of? Is there anything beyond His control? Absolutely none. Despite the sinfulness of men, He sent His Son to display His steadfast love, grace and mercy. This is the greatest proof that He providentially cares for humanity. It is His purpose to restore everything the way He intends it from the beginning. So whatever we are experiencing today, we cannot judge God that He abandoned His people. His silence doesn’t mean He cares less or He is impotent to solve our present problem.
We keep on reminding ourselves that even how dark, terrifying and uncertain the future is, our eyes should always be fixed on trusting Jesus.
Our Lord God is the gracious and merciful God. Also, we saw this pandemic in a certain way, which is a display of God’s mercy and grace. Yes, God was displeased with the wickedness of the humanity. Yet, on the other side, He opened the door for repentance both to His people and to all humanity. God’s heart is for the people to turn their backs from sin and turn to His saving grace. God wanted the people to experience the fullness of life that He originally designed before the fall. It is the life that is in communion with Him, and the life of joy in His presence and of blessedness. He is not the cruel, heartless and sadistic God who ruled the universe without mercy and grace. He is not the God who displays His majesty and glory through power trip. Carson explained from John 17 that if we want to see the glory of God par excellence, we cannot find it somewhere else but on the Cross where Jesus experienced the terrifying wrath of God for sin and at the same time, the vastness of His love for the world. My wife and I bore in our mind that it was God who initiated the way for man to be reconciled to His self in Christ. He is the God who is on the side of life, blessing and restoration. If God is acting out of His justice and righteousness, what is our hope in this life outside of His grace and mercy? And during this pandemic, our vision of God is being refreshed and affirmed that truly He is on the side of life and not death. We reorient ourselves of who God is. But of course, we do not undermine His displeasure for sin and His righteous judgment. He will certainly pour out His wrath sooner to appease His justice and holiness for those who refuse to turn to Him and believe on the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s heart is for the people to turn their backs from sin and turn to His saving grace.
So for me and my wife, this is the heart of the Gospel – our Lord God sovereignly directs our world history. Our present reality and experience do not mean that God is panicking or facing trouble on how to fix our world. He is in absolute control of every event in history. He will fulfill His perfect plan in preserving His church to be perfected and in executing His judgment to those who didn’t believe in the Gospel truth. It is the reason why we are resting in the Lord’s steadfast love by remembering His faithfulness and His sustaining grace since the world began. This truth humbled me and my wife that without Christ’s love and grace (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 2:8-10) we may be depressed, hopeless and anxious today. It is the Gospel truth that we are grieving for others who are sick, dead and psychologically unhealthy. We constantly pray for families that suffered a deep loss during this time (Rom. 12:15; 1 Cor. 3:6-9). By God’s grace and mercy, He enabled me and my wife to live as faithful witnesses of His Gospel truth (Eph. 5:1). Lastly, we are nothing without His mercy and grace. This is the reason why we are rejoicing, thanking Him everyday and being hopeful always. “Indeed, all glory, praise, honor and majesty belong to our Triune God forever and ever.” AMEN
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don’t understand
When don’t see His plan
When you can’t trace His hand
Trust His Heart.
*(Lyrics from the song, TRUST HIS HEART)