A Vaccine, A Light at the End of the Tunnel and Where is the Church?

Mark the date: December 8, 2020, the day England started vaccinating people against COVID-19. The United States would start vaccinating on the 14th, which means we are also moving into the next phase in the battle against the disease. In at least one news report I heard someone say that we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. While not everyone agrees, there are many for whom these vaccines are a source of hope. It’s a promise that we might be able to revive the world’s economies and that we might be able to gather without worrying about super spreader events. The vaccines have brought hope. And as I think about this I also find myself wondering where the church has been during the last 9 months of the pandemic. Specifically has the church been a source of hope during a time when hope is exactly what people needed?

From time to time over the last nine months I have seen churches doing things like feeding people and even working with doctors to get people tested for COVID-19. I do believe that on the local level churches across this country (and around the world) have done their best to help people survive the fallout from this pandemic. I’m not knocking those churches and denominations that have done their best out of love for their neighbors but I do knock the press that did not give these heroes the attention they deserve. Somehow, even though many believers reached out to others, the national story about the church seemed all too often to be about something else.

All too often over the last nine months, when Christians made the news it was about something other than offering hope to their neighbors. Usually churches were in the news because they were fighting against the local government. For the record, I struggle with the idea of restrictions on worship services while bars and casinos are allowed to stay open. At the same time I believe churches can and should deal with this without demonizing officials who are just trying to do what they think best. I also find it amusing that so many of us fight for the right to fill our pews while being critical of those who stand for the right of blacks to live without having to fear that an armed government official might take away their lives.

So, as man made vaccines bring hope to mankind, maybe it’s time for the church to do some self examination. Maybe it’s time for the church to look at its message. Are we offering hope to the world based on the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Are we the ones people turn to when life looks hopeless? COVID causing emotional and mental distress, is the church ready to minister? Are we still letting people know that God does exist and yes, He cares? If we are not a source of hope in tough times, then what exactly is the church?

See also: “Is The Church Still A Source of Hope?” posted July 1, 2020

How God Blessed Us in September

The Christian walk is not always a smooth walk. I wish that it was but it's not. Christians suffer loss just like anyone else. What's different is that we have God on our side. He has a plan and He promises to work all for our good, even those situations we would rather avoid. He will always provide for the needs of His children. He even provides a listening ear when we need to pour out our hearts in sorrow and despair. We all have our ups and our downs and God is with the believer through them all.

During September 2020 the COVID economy finally caught up with my household. My wife was contacted by the HR department at her job and the regional head of the department informed her that she was being furloughed. This was an unexpected shock which left us with numerous questions. Fortunately we know where to turn when we need numerous answers.

Sometimes it's difficult to explain the peace that God bestows upon His children. When bad news threatens to knock us off course, it's comforting to be able to say, "God you've got this," We walk into the unknown knowing that God sees all and knows all. Yes we were shocked by the news and I was tempted to give into fear as I thought about facing our bills with one less paycheck. But instead of giving into that fear we listened to the promises of our Lord and called out to Him for both His comfort and His direction. We respectfully and humbly asked questions, knowing by faith that He would answer.

God kept us in His peace. He then opened the door to another job for my wife. In fact there were two different jobs, both with the same company for which my wife has worked for the last few years. The pay is less than what she was making but so is the level of stress. God continues to provide for our needs. He also continues to open doors as opportunities continue to present themselves. (Please pray for us as we explore these opportunities.)

God has a plan. As we wait for it to unfold we lean upon Him trusting that He will never forsake us. He will always provide for me and my family. He will do the same for you. Trust in Him.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Inside, Outside or Down the Lane

 

Exodus 33:7-11

Exodus 33:7-11 describes three very different relationships, each an opportunity to worship God but each also being very different. I don't think any of them are the wrong relationship but they were definitely a matter of good, better, best. Of late I've been thinking about these three positions, wondering where I am. One thing is for certain, wherever I am right now, my goal is to be in the tent.

Whenever the nation of Israel set up camp during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, Moses would pitch his tent far from everyone else and when anyone wanted to seek the Lord they came out of the camp to this Tabernacle of Meeting. I suspect this was a journey of faith for those who wanted the wisdom only God could provide. But something special happened when Moses entered the tent. When Moses went in God did something highly unusual: "So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." (Exodus 33:11)

Here's the picture painted by this passage. The people are all in the camp, each at his own tent. They stand and watch as Moses enters the tent. As he does so, the pillar of cloud descends in front of the tent and the people begin to worship, I suspect this was a natural response to what must have been an unbelievable sight. Those who worshipped from their tents were in a good position but there was someone who was in a better position.

The Bible says that Joshua would not leave the tabernacle of meeting. It's not clear if he was inside or outside the tent when God and Moses spoke but clearly He was someplace close by. My guess is he was outside. Imagine standing just outside the tabernacle of meeting as Moses entered and the pillar descended. If this was where Joshua stood or knelt, could he feel the turbulence as the pillar changed the atmosphere around it? Was Joshua close enough to overhear the conversation? I know it's rude to eavesdrop but how could you resist listening to the voice of God? (Don't answer that.) If Joshua was outside the tent, he was in a better position than most of the people but he still was not in the best position.

The best position was that held by Moses, inside the tent. There God spoke to Moses as a man speaks to a friend. These devotional times had to have been very special. Can you imagine what that must have been like? What did Moses see? What does God's voice sound like? Did they only talk about major issues or did they talk about the weather or about the kids running races down in the camp? I've said plenty of prayers of various kinds in my lifetime but if I were in that tent like Moses was, I think I'd be too scared to speak. Still, I think Moses had the best seat in the house...I mean camp.

It would be awesome to be in that tent. But guess what? We are all in God's presence just the same and believers have God's Spirit living inside them. God has invited us in. But where are you? By faith do you live and pray as if you are in the presence of God? Do you approach your prayer life as if God is with you and is listening? God wants a close intimate relationship, calling upon us to pray without ceasing. But, by faith, where are you spiritually? Are you inside the tent, outside the tent or are you down the lane?