The Christian Life
High Hopes?
High hopes for 2021! Is this an appealing tune to your ears? No doubt, 2020 has been a peculiar time, and we might well understand those who say, “Surely this new year can’t be as bad as last year.” Perhaps.
Do you recall what the Lord revealed of Himself as recorded in Isaiah, chapter 55?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (verses 8-9)
How do you receive this truth?
For example, did Satan ever think the execution and death of Jesus (whom even the unclean spirits confessed as holy: “I know who you are—the Holy One of God” [Mark 1:24]) would turn out to be pivotal for the gospel of salvation? Also, did anyone involved in the account of the death of Lazarus (whom Jesus loved [John 11:3]) think his illness and demise might turn out to where God is glorified and many of the observers would turn away from skepticism and believe the Christ (John 11:4, 42, 45)?
COVID-19 is no different. Just as God Almighty superintended the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and absolutely oversaw the details of what happened to Lazarus, the same God Almighty (who does not change; Hebrews 13:8) is using the worldwide virus as an instrument to bring forth what is pleasing in His sight. COVID-19 is God’s virus and servant.
That’s repulsive and I entirely disagree! I admit this is a possible response at this point. But let’s not stop here; there is more to consider.
A prophet of old, Habakkuk, was greatly repulsed and entirely flabbergasted with the happenings of his own day (not virus-related but something worse). The Lord then taught the distressed prophet…
Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told. (Habakkuk 1:5)
It was the Lord Himself governing His flawless plan unfolding before Habakkuk’s very eyes. That man of God then came back to his senses and declared God’s ways were the everlasting ways (Habakkuk 3:6).
I have no idea what may unfold in 2021, but I unashamedly pronounce that whatever comes to pass will be in accordance with the everlasting ways of God.
I humbly pray that 2021 be a season of awakening and conversion of many, as well as a year of song unto the Lord by all His people in the manner of Habakkuk’s eventual tune before and unto God…
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
Indeed, there are high hopes for 2021, dear reader.
Paul Moon – member
Evangelchurchpca.org
425 Thompson Rd Alabaster
Worship live or online Sundays 10:30 am
High Hopes?
High hopes for 2021! Is this an appealing tune to your ears? No doubt, 2020 has been a peculiar time, and we might well understand those who say, “Surely this new year can’t be as bad as last year.” Perhaps.
Do you recall what the Lord revealed of Himself as recorded in Isaiah, chapter 55?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (verses 8-9)
How do you receive this truth?
For example, did Satan ever think the execution and death of Jesus (whom even the unclean spirits confessed as holy: “I know who you are—the Holy One of God” [Mark 1:24]) would turn out to be pivotal for the gospel of salvation? Also, did anyone involved in the account of the death of Lazarus (whom Jesus loved [John 11:3]) think his illness and demise might turn out to where God is glorified and many of the observers would turn away from skepticism and believe the Christ (John 11:4, 42, 45)?
COVID-19 is no different. Just as God Almighty superintended the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and absolutely oversaw the details of what happened to Lazarus, the same God Almighty (who does not change; Hebrews 13:8) is using the worldwide virus as an instrument to bring forth what is pleasing in His sight. COVID-19 is God’s virus and servant.
That’s repulsive and I entirely disagree! I admit this is a possible response at this point. But let’s not stop here; there is more to consider.
A prophet of old, Habakkuk, was greatly repulsed and entirely flabbergasted with the happenings of his own day (not virus-related but something worse). The Lord then taught the distressed prophet…
Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told. (Habakkuk 1:5)
It was the Lord Himself governing His flawless plan unfolding before Habakkuk’s very eyes. That man of God then came back to his senses and declared God’s ways were the everlasting ways (Habakkuk 3:6).
I have no idea what may unfold in 2021, but I unashamedly pronounce that whatever comes to pass will be in accordance with the everlasting ways of God.
I humbly pray that 2021 be a season of awakening and conversion of many, as well as a year of song unto the Lord by all His people in the manner of Habakkuk’s eventual tune before and unto God…
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
Indeed, there are high hopes for 2021, dear reader.
Paul Moon – member
Evangelchurchpca.org
425 Thompson Rd Alabaster
Worship live or online Sundays 10:30 am
