Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. - Proverbs 19:21
“There’s nothing new under the sun.” Eccl 1:9
Are you finding it difficult to understand what Solomon meant when he penned those words?
Is that because you’re seeing a lot of new things these days? He obviously didn’t know about this pandemic. Yeah....but he really didn’t have to know about this particular pandemic. Solomon knew what life was like in the Garden before the fall. It was beyond wonderful. And he knew what life was like after sin entered creation. Unbelievably wicked. After seeing that, he had seen everything he needed to see...the best and the worst. And everything in between was merely a reflection of those two realities...nothing really new.
But nothing new under the sun doesn’t mean it isn’t new to us. Most of us are seeing things we never would’ve dreamed we’d see. The very foundations of our culture are being shaken. And that may not be a bad thing. Pain, suffering and death are never a good thing. And there seems to be a lot of it going on all over the world right now.
The loss of loved ones by any means, virus or otherwise, saddens us even though we, as Christians, don’t grieve as the world does. But be that as it may... God has a habit of making good come out of even the worst of circumstances. Because He has a purpose for all He does.
Romans 8:28 tells us...
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
But notice God doesn’t make this happen across the board. Not everybody benefits from this core part of God’s faithfulness. His ability to harness and coalesce all things and turn them to good happens only in the lives of those in a love relationship with God. All the elect, that is, all who have been called by Him are the ones who have this privilege. The privilege of seeing God work in amazing ways and accomplish His miraculous purpose. Only God’s people can know beyond any doubt that if any evil befalls them... will be turned around. All things, no matter how bad a thing is, all things will produce the good that God has purposed and fore-ordained for His beloved. This may be short term, or it may be long term. That is, we may see that change in the here and now or not until the there and then. That’s up to God.
But either way, by faith we know God is faithful. We don’t need to fear as the world does. What is death to us but life? Christians... of all people... ought to know what it means to live in a sin soaked world. To constantly walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Most can’t believe there is a purpose to all we’re seeing. Others mockingly ask, “Can any good come out of this?” We confidently say, “Yes.”
Consider what is often the case in large scale disasters...people are often ripe for the word of God. Are we bold to meet the challenge? Do we believe God has a purpose even if we can’t fully see what it is? Are we ready to give an account of the hope that is ours in Christ? Even in this time of social distancing we still have our phones. Many of us still connect with our coworkers. And we still have snail mail...Yes!...we can write a real live letter! Just make sure you use peal and stick stamps and envelopes.
And finally... we can pray for the ministry of the word. A ministry God has ordained will be fruitful.
Isaiah 55:10, 11 says this...
10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
God’s purpose is the salvation of His elect and the judgment of the wicked. And we, the righteous, have been called according to that purpose. To proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light no matter what the circumstances.
Thanks for listening.