By Steve Hill
Dr. Kenneth Meyer tells about flying into Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on a certain occasion. As the big plane passed over the expressway, Meyer noticed a colossal traffic jam. He also saw that many people were getting out of their cars. Some were standing on their bumpers, straining to see what was going on. As Dr. Meyer glanced northward, he saw what they could not possibly see—the telltale flash of red lights. Meyer knew the problem would be taken care of quickly, so after the plane landed at O’Hare and he proceeded towards his car, he had a completely different perspective from the average traveler on the expressway. He knew he would soon be home. Perspective makes all the difference. We are earthbound creatures, but if we could somehow look down upon the traffic jams in our lives, we would react much differently.
That is precisely the case in the story of the young shepherd David and the armies of Israel as they stood before Goliath. They had fled from Goliath in great fear, but David calmly stood there and said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26). Before the day was over, with his sling whirling overhead, David was running full blast at that great giant. You know the rest of the story. David let go, and the stone hit Goliath right between the running lights. Israel prevailed that day. The difference was one of perspective. The Israelites saw everything from ground level. David had the divine perspective.
This era of COVID-19 induced hysteria and uncertainty is unlike anything I have ever experienced in my 68 years of life on this earth. I’d like to encourage you with some words of hope to navigate these turbulent times.
Cling to the doctrine of the sovereignty of God. God is always, eternally on His throne. Our Lord has not been napping during this era. He has allowed it to give us opportunity to be tested and to be built up into the fullness of the image of Christ. Take a moment to read Psalm 139:1-6. God intimately is familiar with each of us and our individual peculiarities. God cannot be fooled by us. He knows us inside out. After all, He made us in His image. The psalmist says that his knowledge is “too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” Heath Lambert tells us that we must “…get to know a Person whose goodness, trustworthiness, love, mercy, grace, and patience are inexhaustible.” He is “infinite in perfection.”
Commit yourself to daily renewal and dedication to His loving authority over your life. If God is all-knowing and all-wise, he is worthy of our complete trust. It is important that we believe this in the deepest part of our being before a crisis hits. And a crisis will eventually come. I have observed so many individuals, couples, and families who were much too casual with God. When crisis entered their lives they were unprepared for it because they were unfamiliar with the Lord on a personal level. This is why the gospel is so important and why we should take Milton Vincent’s charge to preach the gospel to ourselves every day!
Consider how to encourage the weak among us in this era of the coronavirus. Paul wrote this helpful verse in Romans 15:4: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Continue your faithful reading in God’s Word for that is where you will find comfort and solace. Limit the amount of time you watch television, especially the news. It can be a real downer. Find ways to help your neighbors, especially the elderly, single moms and widows. You will find great reward in helping others.
Like the old hymn said: Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey!
Author: Steve Hill is the pastor of Senior Saints at Canyon Hills Community Church.