pandemic
Don’t Leave God
After Naomi’s sons died, she told Ruth and Orpah to return to their homes, but they both kissed their mother-in-law, cried and told her that they wouldn’t leave her. And they said to her, Surely we will return with you unto your people.
Naomi represents the church and both daughters-in-law had walked with Naomi and her God for a period of time, but when they lost their father-in-law and their husbands, it seemed like Naomi’s God wasn’t there or He didn’t care or He didn’t love them. Even Naomi had turned bitter. But did God change? No. He was good when things were going good in their lives and He was still good when things were bad.
Naomi encouraged them again to go home because she was too old to have a husband and too old to have sons for them to marry. When Orpah realized that there was nothing in it for her and there was no reason to stay, Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye. She was only there for what she could get, but Ruth didn’t just want things. She wasn’t following Naomi just to get another husband or to get children. She didn’t want what Naomi had, but she wanted Who Naomi had. She wanted the Creator more than the things He created.
From their mouths, Ruth and Orpah were crying the same thing, but only one of them meant what they were saying. Ruth had allowed what she saw and heard to change her. Orpah didn’t want change. So, what did she do? She returned to her people and to her gods.
We are in the same situation now as Ruth and Orpah were. We have honored God with our lips, but what are our hearts saying? Some of us are complaining about having virtual church from home and we’re tired of not being able to do what we used to do. We’re getting frustrated. Others are dealing with bouts of depression and loneliness. Did Paul complain while he was in jail? Although he was no longer going to church, he was still the church. Paul faced persecution and suffering yet he still encouraged others. He still believed God.
Not only is this pandemic revealing the hearts of people, but it is also revealing who are the church and who were only going to church. Unfortunately, some of us want to go back to the way things were like Orpah. Ruth didn’t just choose to remain with Naomi, but the bible tells us that she clave to her (KJV). The word, clave, means to cling, to stay close, to follow closely and to hold fast (continue to believe in). And this is what Ruth did.
If things don’t go the way you planned or if things don’t go back to how they were before this pandemic, will you leave Him? We all have said things that we shouldn’t have said and we have done things that we shouldn’t have done, but despite all the things we have done and said, God never left us. And if He hasn’t left us, let us make up in our minds that we are not going to leave Him.
When Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her to go back (Ruth 1:18, CEV).
Stay in the Ark
When Noah built the ark, the ark represented protection, safety, grace and salvation.
But some of us are complaining about the ark that we are in.
I’m ready for this to be over.
I don’t like this.
When will this end?
Can I come out of the ark now?
I want to go back to the way things were.
I don’t understand everything that is taking place right now, but maybe that’s the problem – our desire to go back to the way things were.
When Pharaoh and his army were pursuing the Israelites and they were facing the Red Sea, all they could see before them was death and defeat. God promised that He would deliver them and restore them, but they couldn’t see beyond the sea. They couldn’t see what was on the other side. And that’s why some of are frustrated and weary – because we don’t understand what’s going on and what we see doesn’t look like what God said.
But God gave you a word. Remember what He said before this pandemic. He made you a promise and you can’t die before that promise is fulfilled.
Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?
If you go back to the way things were, what are you really going back to? The blessing is before you. The answer to your prayers is before you. The promises are before you, not behind you. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. We walk by faith, not by sight.
I overheard a lady say last week that this has been a horrible year, but the year isn’t over yet. Give God time to move on your behalf. He is fighting for you.
Just as Noah did what God told him to do, let us do what God tells us to do. Although it rained for 40 days, Noah and his family were in the ark for approximately 370 days. That was a long time and Noah had to wait. He had to be patient and to continue to believe God.
I know it seems like a long time since this pandemic began, but this is not the time to complain. This is the time to be thankful. This is the time to remain in the ark, to remain in Him and to remain in His word.
Paul and Silas were confined to prison, but in the midst of what THEY were going through, they prayed and sang praises to God until the foundations of the prison were shaken and the doors were opened and the bands of EVERYONE were loosed.
Now think on that, be encouraged and be safe.
Things Are About to Change
Jesus told a parable of a rich man who wore expensive clothes and had a feast – food and drink every day. He was not named, but there was a beggar named Lazarus who was laid at the gate. The Open Bible (KJV) translated that this man was brought to the gate sick, full of sores and hungry. He desired to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, but no one fed him.
Soon, they both died. Lazarus was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom, but the rich man died and was buried. While the rich man was being tormented in hell, he looked up and saw Abraham from a distance with Lazarus in his bosom.
One of the things I noticed from this parable was how their lives were reversed. Son, remember that in your lifetime you received good things while Lazarus received evil things, but now he is comforted and you are tormented (Luke 16:25).
Even in a pandemic, some things are being reversed. Things are about to change. God knows what He is doing. His plan is to prosper His people, and that plan has not changed. He is turning things around. God is going to undo what the enemy did to you. Wealth is changing hands – from the hands of the sinner to the hands of the just. Those who are beneath will be above and the tail will become the head.
Lazarus’ name means ‘God has helped’ and your help has come. Not only will you be comforted, but you will receive good things.
Be encouraged.
What Are We Waiting For?
The ten virgins heard that the bridegroom was coming, but he delayed his coming. Then, at midnight, he came while they were sleeping.
In the days of Noah, everything appeared normal. People were busy making plans and building a life for themselves. There were banquets, parties and weddings. It was business as usual. Everyone was having a good time until Noah entered the ark. Then, the flood came and everyone was destroyed.
In the days of Lot, people were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting and building. But the same day that Lot left Sodom, brimstone and fire poured down like rain from the sky and destroyed everyone.
Each of these stories have one thing in common. The bridegroom, the flood as well as the brimstone and fire came unexpectedly.
As I was reading these scriptures, I thought about the body of Christ. To those whom God revealed that this was coming, did we believe God or His prophets? Did we prepare for this pandemic? Like John the Baptist, was the church preparing privately until it was time for us to appear publicly?
Despite this being a difficult time for the world, I still believe this is a great opportunity for the body of Christ. Let your light shine before men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. This is the time for the world to see the church demonstrate what we have been preaching.
The same Jesus that raised the dead is in us. The same Jesus that healed every kind of sickness and disease is in us. The same Jesus that fed five thousand is in us. Who is fasting? Who is praying? Who is caring for the fatherless, the prisoners, the widow and the homeless?
Is the church waiting on the government to do it or will the Lord find us doing?
Something to Think About
It was the second plague.
Because Pharaoh refused to let the children of Israel go, God caused the rivers to bring forth frogs. And they were everywhere – on the people, in their homes, on their beds, in their servants’ homes, in their ovens, and even in their food (dough).
But when Pharaoh had enough of this, he called for Moses and told him that if God would take the frogs away from him and his people, he would let the Israelites go. So, Moses did what he asked. He cried out to the Lord and prayed for Him to take the frogs away. Then, the Lord answered him and the frogs died.
But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not to them; as the Lord had said (Exodus 8:15).
Respite means a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant. During this plague as well as the others, Pharaoh would repent and ask for forgiveness. He would acknowledge his sin and he even called himself wicked and the Lord righteous at one point (Exodus 9:27). He would promise the Lord that if he took away his problems (plagues), that he would obey Him and let His people go.
But he didn’t mean it. He was just saying it to get out of his situation. As soon as God moved on his behalf because of Moses’ prayer, he got comfortable again, forgot about what he just went through, returned to his way of living and refused to let the Israelites go.
I know we all want this pandemic to be over. We want the children to return to school. We want to go back to the gym. We want to go to the movies. We want things to go back to the way they were.
But, like Pharaoh, are we only pleading with God so that this virus can stop and we can return to our daily routine or do we mean what we say?
Are we going to God in prayer because we want Him or because we want something from Him?
Are we complaining and murmuring like the Israelites about this current situation or are we giving thanks in it?
Just something to think about.
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