12/20/2021
As we approach Christmas morning and our celebration of the birth of Christ, let’s take this opportunity to do some soul searching, and begin by asking ourselves the straightforward question… “What is the condition of my faith?” Given the difficulties of the past two years with the COVID virus our relationships with the Lord, and each other, may have become strained. Perhaps we have walked away, or simply slipped into a sense of malaise concerning church. These have been years like none other in modern times. Satan has successfully renewed man’s age old fear of death, and used it to separate us from God who is life.
“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.””
Psalm 50:14-15 ESV
In the past believers have been brought together in times of trouble, hardship, or spiritual attack. I can think of no time in history like the one we have been going through with the COVID virus; a time when we were separated from one another by fear, or that the treatment of a disease has turned people of faith against one another to this degree. In the past two years we have locked the doors of our church buildings, been afraid to touch one another (even in the laying on of hands in prayer), fallen out of habitual and regular worship, and sadly… some of us have become angry at other Christians, Jesus, or God, as family members have died of this virus, or become incredibly ill. One of the worst outcomes during these times has been a sense of hopelessness that many have fallen into as they believe that God has turned away, or is punishing them… nothing could be further from the truth. “What is the condition of my faith?”
““For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
Deuteronomy 7:6 ESV
These are God’s words to the Israelites, but they are also true today for Christians because Jesus Christ has become the way that we have been provided by which we too are to come to God. So the promises of His protection, provision, love, and all the others, remain for us, and are magnified in Jesus. “What is the condition of my faith?”
“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:5-6 ESV
““Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
John 14:12 ESV
COVID is more than an illness of the body, it has infected the Church, and our spirituality. It has been used to undermine the fragile faiths of some, and to replace the love we are meant to show our brothers and sisters in faith, and our neighbors, with fear, anger, and in many cases hatred. This is a disease of our souls, and as such it can rob us of far more than our bodily lives. Has the desire and love for our earthly possessions, and our lives in the world, overcome the love we are meant to have for God, and His promise of an eternal life of joy? “What is the condition of my faith?”
““Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.””
Matthew 22:36-40 ESV
Then there is the malaise that we have been tempted to fall into. For some of us our faith has been revealed to be nothing more than a habitual Sunday morning visit with church friends, and when we were no longer able to physically attend church services, or fellowship with them, then the weakness of our faith is revealed. This lack of true faith was certainly there all along, but by our extended separation it has been made obvious. We see how we have been practicing church on Sunday, but were actually just there in body and mind. Distancing has cast a light on this. “What is the condition of my faith?”
In all of these shortcomings and failures of faith that COVID has revealed to us, we have two choices. We can remain lost by continuing to be pitted against our neighbors and others of faith, continue refusing to acknowledge that the building we meet in is not the church, we are, being lost by believing that God has turned against us, abandoned us, or was never there, yielding to the fear of death by believing those we’ve lost are truly gone, and by wallowing in the malaise of a hapless faith that needed strengthening… “What is the condition of my faith?”
“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
Jeremiah 6:16 ESV
OR… we can address these faults and shortcomings in our faith, and return to worship, constant prayer, and love, as we seek out our salvation in fear and trembling. Let’s answer the call that Paul wrote the Philippians, and become a light in this world of hopelessness. Then let’s ask ourselves once again… “What is the condition of my faith?”
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”
Philippians 2:12-16 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for using this time of sickness, and division, brought about by the COVID virus, to cast a light on the strength and condition of our belief, and faith, in you and your Son Jesus Christ. Help us as we look back on our faithfulness over these past years, and show us our weaknesses and faults. Teach us Father to turn to you in every challenging time, and to lean always on our faith in you as we combat the suffering in this life. Open our eyes, and give us confidence in the fact that you work all things for good to us as we love you, and do your will. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is always with us and walks with us, even in the valley of the shadow of death. Praised be your name Lord for every mercy you show us, and for the revelations, and blessings, that we find in the losses, and hard times of earthly life. Your love for us knows no limits, and your grace which flows from Jesus is sufficient for us. Cleanse us in His blood Father, and forgive us our sins. Renew any hope that COVID may have taken, and teach us to be faithful in hard times such as this. Let us walk in these challenging days as Jesus walked towards Calvary, and be pleased with us as we do so. We pray that at the end of our journey you will find us worthy, and seat us at your table forevermore.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:9, 17-18 ESV
Rich Forbes