Eyes On The Prize

What should we do during COVID-19 pandemic and worldwide scrambling? I know my roll and it isn’t toilet paper. I’ve been told what lane to drive in and where to focus my eyes set on the horizon. Regardless of long lines, food and toilet paper shortages, and grim outlooks… My concern cannot be not only for myself and my own family, but for my neighbor as much as myself.

Mark 12:31 “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

How important is this to God? “There is none other commandment greater than these.” It’s not only important, it’s the most important. When I see my neighbor struggling; What do I do? I share, I comfort, I encourage, I may even need to grieve with them. Who are we in the face of trial, illness, famine, and danger? We are the children of God. Who was Jesus in the face of trial, illness, famine, and danger? He was wisdom, peace, love, and help. This is what our goal is. 

Psalms chapter 121:

(A Song of degrees.) I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

I’m never promised that I will not be thrown right into the fire or overcome with the COVID-19 virus. God has chosen us while we live in the furnace of affliction. This is life. Life is trial and tests of our loyalty and love to our Father in Heaven and our King. Do we love Him the most, in spite of the peril we face? Do we focus on Him even when we use the last square of toilet tissue and consume our last box of non-perishables?

Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

I’m promised that in spite of it, God will keep my soul from all evil if I trust Him. Maybe you and I will get COVID-19. Maybe it will be as mild as a cold or maybe we could die. Death was never something we were going to escape in this life in the first place, nor was it ever the #1 priority for God’s people. The #1 goal sounds like it should be …

Mathew 22:37 

34. But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 

In spite of COVID-19, in spite of the persecution at school or in a job, despite those hoarding precious necessities, despite even death; This is our God given and utmost holy mission statement. We are the children of the Most High King of Heaven. Loving our neighbor as ourself could be sharing supplies, or even abstaining from contact with them because we are feeling under the weather. I have what seems to be a run of the mill cold. I didn’t go to church today because I don’t think people I love, want this cold. I sure didn’t want it. We just do our best in every given situation, to treat others the way we would hope they would treat us. In no area of life, can we make an exception for it. We march in the army of the Lord. We war against the powers of evil, not against the person with the last of the toilet paper and hand sanitizer. 

I love you each so much. I saved this song many months ago, knowing it was for something and that there would be a time I share it. Today I was led to share it. We may stand in the furnace, but we know our mission, and Jesus will stand with us in the fire.