What will you be like A.D.?

Come way back with me in time… all the way back to B.C. (Before COVID). Remember those days??? We had a myriad of activities, habits and schedules to keep. Work trips, work meetings… kids schedules of sports, school, friends’ parties, events… our own hobbies, interests, movies, shopping, to-do’s… and a slew of other things we squeezed into the cracks.

Remember those days?

I can remember way back then when COVID first struck and everything came to a screeching halt and how, well, relieved many of us felt. It would be two weeks (or maybe three) of a mini-vacation. Time to do some important things around the house that have been neglected. Time with family that too was neglected. There was this little sense of, “whew, a break”. We were able to stop for a moment and catch our breathes. Do you remember those days?

I can remember too how many were wanting to never go back to those “old days”.

I’m wondering… now that we are getting (slowly) back to a pre-pandemic state, how’s it going? Is there a rush to dive back into the milieu of endless activities? If so, why? Have you prayerfully considered what the Lord would want you and your family to do?

This week I was struck in my Bible reading in Luke 12. I think it speaks right to our culture and personal decisions we will make.

Luke twelve begins with a warning of not being a religious hypocrite, then into our need to fear God over men, and then into our need to acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of our lives. Then Jesus gives a parable about the rich fool. (Um, I’m going to say it for all of us – none of us wants to be a rich FOOL. Right?)

You see, the rich fool put all of his efforts and time into building his kingdom. He stored up treasures (i.e. things really important to him) and made much of them. He worked hard. Our society appreciates these people. They are good contributors to society. This man kingdom was a good one. He had the degrees, he had the goods, he had the right IRA’s. And he finally got to retirement (ahhhhh, sweet retirement). And the Lord spoke to him that night and said, that’s it, your life is over from this point on. He had spent a life building his kingdom and neglected God – ignored Him and His kingdom and God says he was a “fool”!

Keep reading in Luke. Move from verse 21 into verse 22 and you may think we have a new thought and direction. Maybe so, but maybe not so much. Jesus tells us how to deal with anxiety in our lives. We usually just read the “stop worrying about your life” and think maybe how quaint… if only it was that easy, Jesus. But much more is going on here in the text. We are told to “consider” two different examples (vss. 24 & 27) of how the Lord cares for all things – even lowly (and annoying) ravens. He cares for the birds and those flowers of spring in fields no man will ever even see. God cares for them all.

With that background in place, Jesus states that those who don’t know Him and trust Him (Gentiles, vs. 30) seek after all the stuff. But – and get this – “your Father knows that you need them.” He knows all that you need. There is nothing that falls out of His view, for you matter to Him. He knows you need them –therefore that He will provide for you ALL that you need. And so, as verses 31 and following state, we are to seek His kingdom and not ours. Trust Him. Lay up your treasures in heaven. Make your life centered around the Lord and His kingdom, not your own.

As you reengage in pre-pandemic activities, it is a legitimate question to consider, “What will your life be centered around in 2021 AD (After Distancing)?”

My friend, who’s kingdom will you be building? The evidence will be in your fruit. I assure you; you will never be disappointed in making Christ first in your life.

May the Lord bless you and your family this Easter. I look forward to worshiping with you tomorrow.

In His Grip, Pastor John