This Is Our Time!

I stopped at a Dollar General Store, one of those way out in the middle of nowhere, not in but near a small town in West Virginia. I had been looking for hand sanitizer and was able to find empty shelves and signs on some store entrances that said, “We are out of hand-sanitizer.” I thought, “Why would they need hand sanitizer way out here so far from crowds and all the hysteria?” As I entered, I asked the clerk if they had any. She responded, “Yes, we just unpacked two cases,” and followed with, “but you better hurry.” I scurried over to the aisle only to find two women had beat me to it, each of them scooping hand sanitizers from the shelf into those hand baskets they provide. Both baskets were nearly full. Realizing I was on shaky ground, I meekly asked, “Can I snag a few of those from each of you?” “Not in your life!” came the indignant reply from one. “No way!” from the other. As I got in my car, all I could think was, “Treat others as more significant than yourself” (Php 2:3). If I had been the first one down the aisle, would I have been able to put my “Love in action” as we’ve been teaching? Or would I allow my sense of self-preservation to guide me?

The world seems to have frayed at the ends over the last week; stock market crashes, travel restrictions, empty shelves, near-hysteria and paranoia everywhere. It’s a stark reminder of how fragile our lives really are and how precarious this new world economy can be. Not too long ago, there would be little concern over a virus in China, but with international business travel being what it is and leisure activities abounding on airplanes and cruise ships in the twenty-first century, we find ourselves in a more vulnerable position to sickness and disease than has ever been experienced before.

The world is in a panic. There’s good reason to be concerned. The threat of the Coronavirus is real and needs to be taken seriously. This is a time for caution and care.

But, it’s not a time for fear or anxiety, not for the children of God.

The ESV uses the phrase “fear not” thirty-three times. This should be the message of the church, “Fear not!” God remains on the throne. He is sovereign over every virus, every situation, every country, every city, every town, every home, every individual. The response of the church should be set apart from that of the world. This is our opportunity to put God on display, to put our love into action. Perhaps we, like Esther, have been prepared for a time such as this (Est 4:15). As we boldly decide not to become victims of fear and paranoia, but to place our trust in God, we can, even while the world panics around us, experience the peace that goes beyond understanding (Php 4:6-7) and be ambassadors of the love of Christ (2 Cor 5:20).

What does that look like? Well, we must be prudent. The risks

around us are real and we must take them into account. We should limit handshakes and hugs when we get together. We don’t sequester ourselves, but we don’t get reckless about being in public either.  So, we proceed with caution. We wash our hands--frequently! But we do not wash our hands of the world around us.

But whenever an opportunity to be peacemakers arises, we should take it. We should be encouragers, not rumor mongers and agents of bad news and doomsday scenarios. We should be aware of online and in-person opportunities to assure folks that this too will pass, that God is a loving God and that His peace is readily available to those who trust in Him. We should be aware of those around us and use this moment to show our trust in God by sharing what we have. Instead of hoarding hand sanitizer, food and household goods, we can minister the gospel by offering them to our neighbors and friends, by reaching out to the elderly folks down the street to see if they need anything  or if we can be of any service, by praying for others on the phone and in our emails/posts. In short, whether we are out and about or staying in our homes, we can get creative about being Christ to those around us.

This is our time. This is a time for the church to stand up and show the world what true, godly love looks like. This is a golden opportunity, a unique moment in history in which we can be messengers of the gospel in a profound and practical way. Let’s refuse to succumb to the spirit of self-preservation and isolation that seems to pervade everything and everyone around us and become an oasis of joy, peace, and compassion. We can do it. God has prepared us. He has given us this opportunity. Let’s make the most of it.