Climate of Fear
The
coronavirus has done the unexpected – it has bumped “climate change” off the
fear register for now as reports of the virus continue to dominate headlines
and news reports. The lesson being taught us is that we are really not in
control of our lives, as much as we’d like to believe and think we are.
J
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ust as we
cannot re-adjust the climate to what we think is normal, so we cannot cure
every disease, heal every hurt, satisfy every injustice, stop every bullet or
even every bully, dry up every tear, alleviate every fear. This world is
broken, and it will remain broken until Christ comes again. And that event will
be beyond words. Every mouth will be stopped.
That fact, of
course, does not mean that we give up trying to find cures, to promote justice
and fairness, to help the homeless, and to do what we can to comfort the
suffering – the work of restoration is vital work. Yet all such work is
temporary in nature. Even those who Jesus healed of so many ailments would
still have to die.
Christians
are not meant to be spectators of a reality show, sitting idly by to see what
will happen to this earth, while waiting for Jesus to come. But we’re also not
super- men and women of Marvel comic fame who can save this world from itself.
Nor are the many politicians who clamor for your votes. We can’t save the
world. We can’t even save ourselves. That’s what Christ came to do – He came to
save – for eternity. He did it flawlessly. Perfectly. Finally. Still, He uses
us to accomplish His purposes, and that should both humble and excite us.
Fear is part
of our nature. And events such as epidemics remind us just how fragile and how
vulnerable we are, and how scared our neighbors can be. Those who shake their
puny fists at God need their eyes opened, their ears unstopped, their hearts turned
from stone to flesh. Perfect love casts out fear. And perfect love is what God
gives to us who live in a fear-filled world.
John Van Dyk,
Editor
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