Yesterday, I got an email from our church that PHO of British Columbia has been issued new order and directions for Religious in-person gatherings, which simply suspends Sunday service and worship until further notice. . . and yet again! I could not hold my tears. I barely hold my tears even now. It feels like a nightmare and total devastation.
Of course, grocery stores, shopping centers, liquor stores, movie theaters, hair and nail salons, tutoring and music lessons, city council meetings, alcoholics anonymous, other business meetings, sports games, restaurants, pubs and bars ARE ESSENTIAL, thus can continue to operate as long as they have a COVID-19 Safety Plan.
Something is missing from the list above. Church is same essential as your own family, as your own body. The Church is the body of believers with the high priest Jesus Christ. But, as per our authorities we do not need God! That is not the virus what they hiding from, but the Lord God who judges! “Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?” (Isaiah 29:15). Adam and Eve hid from God, because they knew that they sinned and were ashamed (Genesis 3:8-10). Jonah fleeded from God, in order not to preach at Nineveh as God commanded him (Jonah 1:3).
People know that they are wicked sinners, therefore run away from God like cockroaches run away when they are exposed to light. Our government too, like those cockroaches, run away when their evil deeds are exposed to the Lord Jesus Christ! And they should run. Abortions, euthanasia, same sex marriage, transgenderism and transgender kids (hormone therapy for minors), breaking the family as a core institution of society, narcotics and abusive substances are being endorsed by the very government. But, “there is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves” (Job 32:22)
Scripture
17 For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes. -- Jeremiah 16:17 KJV
Observation
God is Almighty, God is Just! God will surely execute judgement upon those who do wicked and abominable things. God sees all their ways and sins, they are not hid from His face. Although they closed their eyes to their sinful ways, definitely their sins are not hidden from God.
And same as Jeremiah preached to the kings of Judah, we are too ought to preach to our kings. We have to preach about the Day of Judgement awaiting for them, if they will not repent and turn away from their iniquity. God is just! But God is “good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in loving kindness to all who call upon [Him]” (Psalm 86:5). The first step of repentance is to acknowledge that you are a sinner and cannot hide from God.
Application
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
- What is essential for you?
- Have you listed the church on that list?
- How close are you with your church family?
- Do you pray for them regularly?
- Do you pray for your government to turn to God?
Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13
