COVID 2020: When God Flipped the Script

I think we can all agree 2020 has been an unprecedented year thus far. Who would have thought that terms like social distancing, voluntary isolation and quarantine would become a part of our daily language, especially in the current social media age? Although not commonplace prior to the last few weeks, almost everyone now understands their practical meaning and implication: a state of forced isolation and restraint of activity designed to prevent the spread of disease. But did you know the literal meaning of 'quarantine'? It is literally "a period of 40 days".

The length of 40 days in the bible has significance. It is the number associated with a period of waiting, testing, preparation or trial.

One of the most familiar of these examples of 40 days of preparation and testing is when Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days. Scripture tells us that being led by the Holy Spirit, and shortly after his baptism by John, Jesus went into the Wilderness for 40 days. During that time he ate no physical food. At the end of this time, the Devil came to tempt him. Jesus relied on scripture to resist. Immediately afterward, Jesus began his ministry of the Gospel for the next three years. Towards the end of his ministry and right before his last Passover, he retreated with his disciples near the Wilderness in a place called Ephraim. The name Ephraim means "the Lord has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." Jesus was about to go the Cross, which was God's ultimate act of reconciliation between Himself and his people. The Cross was the fruit of Jesus' ministry; it is what allows his followers to become disciples who make more disciples.

So the question to ask is this: What is God wanting to do with His church during this time of forced isolation? How will we respond to this 'quarantine'? Most people agree the forced change in our daily lives has in many ways been good. It has made us appreciate things we may have taken for granted and realized some things we can live without.

 In Hebrews 12: 26-29, God tells us that " I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain."

 Sometimes God will allow a flip in the script on our daily lives to remind us what is really important. Even things the Devil means for evil, God will work through them for our good. Just look at the Cross.  Modern distractions that prevent us from hearing or leaning into his voice have been temporarily removed. The ramifications have affected both people and the Earth itself. (Check the news for the affect of COVID on the environment)  I'm going to suggest this may be the take home lesson of COVID 2020. Less distraction and more interaction. Less noise and more care.  God speaks that to us in a small quiet voice. You have to remove distractions to hear Him.  

(After 40 days the Lord appeared to Elijah. He asked him, what are you doing here?) .....

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1Kings19 

If you want to hear God's voice,  next you have to press in. I believe in this season God is preparing his church for something. The same question He asked Elijah we should ask ourselves. What are you doing?  How will you spend this time of resting from your normal routine? I believe God wants to remove a lot of what we normally consume, and like Jesus, in the wilderness, have us subsist on a different kind of  daily nourishment. What is it? The daily bread (Manna) that comes from God's word. Read your bible. Pray. Love your family and your neighbors in tangible ways. The church has left the building so to speak. Therefore we need to learn how to be the church outside those walls that normally define us. Ask God what He is preparing for you to do? He will primarily reveal this to you in His word. 

In America we work tirelessly to achieve the rest we ultimately think will make us happy. In our own strength we think the fruit of our labors and physical work will lead us TOWARD our fulfillment, retirement, or whatever you want to call it. I think with COVID 2020, God is flipping the script. Instead He is telling us to work FROM a place of rest to achieve a season of fruitfulness like we haven't seen before. While we are hunkered down at home, let's choose to abide in Christ. I think the church is getting ready to see a harvest. 

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."- John 15