What is it going to take to see beyond the lockdown?
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What a year 2020 has been! We still have a few months to go and already I hear people saying that it's a year they want to forget. From a war on terror to a war on fear, countries have been plagued by Covid, national lock downs, economic shutdown and civil unrest.
Some of us have lost loved ones, livelihoods and homes within a matter of months. Galvanized to save the National Health Service, the community spirit has depleted. In the UK we no longer hear the weekly clapping for our NHS staff.
The optimistic sound of clapping has been replaced with the pessimistic sound of lock down. As we enter, the second wave of Covid cities and regions are beginning to resist the pressure from the government to enforce higher tier Covid restrictions.
Across the pond, the US is struggling to hold itself together. With the country embroiled in the possibility of the corruption of the US election results, the country is at a crossroads. Does it continue to take the Trump express train to make America great again? Or is it time to switch lanes for smokin Joe?
The new normal doesn't feel normal at all. In fact, the fear of Covid has only served to intensify the issues which have already been plaguing countries for many years.
BLM, the brutality of SARS, Islamic terrorism, immigration and economic depression all serve to highlight that Covid is simply another addition to the list of the many issues we are dealing with globally.
For a time Covid has been at the top of the national agenda, but now these underlying issues are taking centre ground.
So how should we respond to this season?
If we are to persevere through this period, we need to be motivated by faith rather than fear.
Great faith requires great people to say and do great things.
Faith doesn't mean ignoring the reality of the challenges we face. Rather it's about facing the challenges head-on knowing that a greater purpose is at stake.
Scripture tells us to walk by faith and not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7. That doesn't mean to ignore what we see. Faith is spiritual sight and is the revelation of the omnipotence of the almighty, which helps us to see more than what's in front of us.
Spiritual sight pierces through the limits of natural sight. Spiritual sight helps us to see the limitless possibilities and opportunities which natural sight and the natural mind cannot perceive.
Hebrews 11 records the circumstances whereupon the patriarchs of old were called to exemplify great faith in the midst of the darkest of trials.
The lesson for the kingdom citizen is to see beyond the lock down. Like Peter and Silas praise through the bars until they are opened. Read Acts 16:16-40. Like Paul, be willing to endure temporary shackles for the sake of the gospel of the kingdom. Read Philippians 1:12-26
The song "Outrageous Grace" aptly articulates the perception we need to see beyond the lock down.
There's a lot of pain but a lot more healing
There's a lot of trouble but a lot more peace
There's a lot of hate but a lot more loving
There's a lot of sin but a lot more grace
Oh outrageous grace oh outrageous grace
Love unfurled by heaven's hand
Oh outrageous grace oh outrageous grace
Through my Jesus I can stand
There's a lot of fear but a lot more freedom
There's a lot of darkness but a lot more light
There's a lot of cloud but a lot more vision
There's a lot of perishing but a lot more life
There's an enemy
That seeks to kill what it can't control
It twists and turns
Making mountains out of molehills
But I will call on my Lord
Who is worthy of praise
I run to Him and I am saved
By Godfrey Birtill
