It is affecting the hearts and minds of many.

I’m not saying we should not take this pandemic seriously or take precautions.

I’m not saying that at all.

What I am seeing though is so incredibly sad and it breaks my heart.

It’s fear without hope.

It’s gripping. It’s suffocating. It’s consuming. Many.

It’s not that those who know the Savior aren’t realists about the trouble of this life; but if the scary scenarios become reality, they know this life isn’t all there is. It was never meant to be.

When you are a citizen of an eternal Kingdom, this life doesn’t hold the keys to all your happiness.

And the funny thing is those who know this life is not all there is seem more free to enjoy this temporary life than those who bank only on this passing world to bring them joy.

Those who don’t know Jesus have looked for hope in all the wrong places. Sex. Money. Position. Power. Influence. Human relationships.

But none of those things can save them from a tiny virus they cannot see.

There is no shot to prevent our bodies from dying one way or another.

This pandemic has caused many to understand they are not in control.

We literally cannot control our next breath.

But, there is One Who does.

The One Who created you and formed you.

He holds your every breath in His Hands.

He is the Christ of Christmas.

But
Not
Just
Christmas

Not just a day, or a year, or a lifetime.

He is the Savior. He is the King of the eternal Kingdom that has no end!

To those who know God, He says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isa 41:10)

Those who know the Christ, know those words are eternally true.

No matter what comes, He will not leave or forsake His children! (Deut 31:6)

Yes, one day all of us will draw our last breath here, but those who have called on the Name of the Lord, know to be absent of this earthly body is to be eternally home with the Lord. (2 Cor 5:8)

Yes, when our eyes turn only to this world all of us are apt to be distressed.

But as the Psalmist said, “Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.” (Psalm 118:5)

FREE!

Oh friend, there is trouble all around us; but there is freedom over that trouble and fear for those who call on the Lord.

Those who believe are able to enter rest that no earthly circumstance can take away. (Heb 3:12-19)

But know this, this belief is NOT merely in the existence of Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us even the demons believe and shudder. (James 2:19)

To have only a cognitive belief, like the demons have, still results in a fear of our eventual doom.

But when Jesus is the Lord of your life, when you surrender all you know of you to follow (obey) all you know of Him, there is salvation that nothing can take away.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.“ (John 3:16)

Oh friend, God GAVE His Son that we might live!

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among menc by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Do you know Him?

In the true words of two of my favorite songs-

“O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.“ (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Lemmel)

And those who know Christ as Lord can truly say—

“In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
(In Christ Alone, Getty, Townsend)

No fear! Jesus! What a Savior!

aweandwonder

Kimjaggers.com