RE-ENVISIONING 2020: WHAT IS GOD SAYING?
In light of the current coronavirus pandemic, no doubt we have all had to rethink our visions and goals for 2020. Very few people who generally issue prophetic declarations saw this globe-shaking virus-bomb coming upon our world. In the past six to eight weeks we’ve seen and heard a plethora of words, warnings, and assurances. So, who’s right: the prophets of bloom or the prophets of doom? Are we to: stay safe or show faith? … settle in or reopen? …trust authorities or protest and fight for our rights? These are certainly not unimportant questions, and the truth of the issues clearly matters. Personally, I hope and pray that the prophets of bloom are correct, that we are right on the edge of a miraculous God-intervention whereby He stops the virus in its tracks and sends a great spiritual awakening! (Some words/dreams recently shared say that there will be such a turnaround by the end of April. That’s tomorrow, as I am writing this on April 29. Hope and pray it’s true – I guess we will all find out, huh?)
However, I don’t want to write here about predictions and such. My focus is this: What is God saying to us, and what does He want to accomplish in, among, and through us during these challenging times? Here are several important things I see:
1. God is dealing with many of the idols in our lives and nation. The prophet Jeremiah wrote: “Thus says the LORD: ‘“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.’” (Jer. 9:23-24). This is no time for pride or boasting in our achievements, our wealth, or anything else. God is testing our hearts to see who will be faithful (read Deuteronomy 8). The pandemic is revealing how much we have been centering our lives around substitutes for God: things like money, stock market, jobs, sports, popularity, recreation. . . what else? These things aren’t bad in themselves, but they may have become overvalued and thus hindrances in our spiritual lives. God wants each of us to evaluate our relationship with Him: What, or who, do you really trust in and center your life around? What is your spiritual center of gravity? Are you a worldling who goes to church, or are you a Christian who goes as an ambassador for Jesus into the world? It’s a good time to assess our overall spiritual health and to prioritize our basic commitments.
2. God is using this time to draw us closer to Himself. For a time at least, most of us have been freed from the hectic pace of what we are accustomed to seeing as normal life. This is a time that affords us a great opportunity to humble and quiet ourselves before God, deepen our communion with Him, abide in His presence, read His Word, listen for His voice. In 2 Chronicles 20, we read about King Jehoshaphat, when a huge enemy army had surrounded Jerusalem and threatened to overtake and destroy Judah. The good king gathered his people together – men, women, children – and led them to their only hope: “God, we don’t know what to do,” he said, “but our eyes are on You.” God was moved by their humility and reverent trust in Him, as He always is, and He intervened miraculously to bring overwhelming victory to His people. I believe He will do the same for us as we humbly put our trust in Him. “Trust in the Lord,” we read, “and do not rely on your own insight; in all your ways acknowledge HIM; and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). God is calling us to that deeper life in Him; the life in which we are not led primarily by the surface winds and waves of life, but by the deeper currents of His Spirit moving in and among us as we abide in Him.
3. God is calling us to respond creatively to the challenges confronting us. Years ago, a software engineer friend of mine gave me his business card. It had an icon of a dinosaur with the words, “Adapt or die.” Pastors, churches and Christians in general are being led by the Spirit to adapt to changing circumstances. In order to meet the needs of the saints and reach out to those who need Christ, we’re learning to more creatively use technology and the internet; Facebook, YouTube, and Zoom; conference calling and lots more. (Yesterday, ten of us Ford-family folks got to talk with my 100-year-old Mom as she sat in her nursing home in Virginia – such JOY as my Mom wholeheartedly sang, “He Made Something Beautiful Out of My Life.”). We need to accept this challenge and trust in the creative Holy Spirit to show us how to be more effective in meeting needs and equipping God’s people for the work of ministry. Worship services, home fellowships and Sunday School classes, youth groups, large and small conferences, and lots more are now being done quite effectively on-line, even though for many there is still a large learning curve (let’s pray for each other regarding that). Exciting news: Our Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries Executive Committee is currently listening for God’s leading concerning the establishing of an online HSRM School of Ministry (more later on that; please be praying!)
4. God is calling us to remember the poor, the helpless, the lonely – the least, the last, and the lost. Even though most of us are likely experiencing some significant financial losses, with uncertainties still looming, this is not a time for hoarding in fear. We definitely want to be faithful stewards of all that God has entrusted to us, and that may be by being more generous than ever, especially with the enormous needs all around us. “Give,” Jesus said, “and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). Jesus identifies so much with those in need, and we as Christians, churches, and ministries need to reach out in Christ’s compassion to meet needs as God moves our hearts and shows us what to do – not only in our own neighborhoods, churches, communities and country, but also in the neediest nations of the world, where suffering is horrendous, and where pending famines are threatening the survival of literally millions. And let’s remember to lift up Jesus and share His gospel with people around us. Reach out in Christ’s love to others when you are in public – at the post office, grocery stores, etc. Offer to pray for people as many are surprisingly open. Shine your light, people need Jesus! We carry the answer to their deepest needs and yearnings.
5. Finally, God is calling us to PRAY! Praying in our prayer closets alone is vitally important. But so also is praying intercession together! Cheri and I host a weekly Free Conference Call intercessory prayer meeting that I started with some Facebook friends across our country. It’s been exhilarating to lift up the burdens of our nation and world to the throne of God’s grace together! So many of us squander the amazing gift of intercessory prayer. Let it NEVER be said of us that “we have not because we ask not!” In Matthew 18:18-20, Jesus made a promise that when 2 or 3 of us gather in His name, He is there with us. The early church prayed in one accord, aloud, together, and history changed, revival started! Why, oh why, do we not use conference calling and zoom or other online formats to PRAY!?
Well, I’m sure that God is saying and doing lots more, especially in that He sees us and works in our lives individually as well as corporately. But I hope these thoughts will be helpful to you as we take this journey of faith together. Love and blessings to all of you!