Perspective in This Unique Time

March 30th, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It seems that each new day during the Coronavirus era that we find ourselves living in, brings with it new information, new challenges to navigate, greater uncertainties, and more anxiety. Our world, our activities, our lives are being turned upside down. Hopes and dreams are being dashed as events like weddings family celebrations, graduations, and vacations are postponed or cancelled. Unemployment, bills to be paid, career disruptions, and medical care are adding tremendous levels of stress on top of all these things we face.

The questions keep coming: Why is this happening? When will it end? Why is it taking so long? How will life go on? What will be the long term effects? How will everyday life be different? Will I get this virus? What about my family?

As pastors, we are asking the same questions. As pastors, we struggle to provide a word of encouragement that will hopefully alleviate the fears, even to just a small degree. We seek God daily, hourly in prayer on behalf of the flock under our care and wonder, “are we doing enough, are we being a blessing?”

I often tell people that in the absence of clear information, human beings often gravitate toward a negative interpretation of an event or situation. Watching the news this week was a jumble of images, opinions, fluid facts, and hype to garner ratings. Dire and grim are two words that were generated in my mind in reaction to what I saw. It would be easy to believe that things were getting more and more out of control, that society was on the brink. But, is it really the case?

Expectation and perspective are two words that have the power to affect our interpretation of reality. The first, expectation, is defined in this way, “strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future. A belief that someone will or should achieve something. The belief that something should happen in a particular way. The degree of probability that something will occur.”

Expectation is a precarious word because it sets up and enforces limitations on outcomes of events over which no individual has control. It raises stress levels when the expectation is not being met according to the desires and timeframe of the individual who holds them. It can hold people hostage to meet the expectation and condemn them when they fail to accomplish it. It can ruin relationships for years. Expectations are really just imagination, things hoped for, or wishful thinking. They are trying to predict the future, or even forcing a desired future to become reality. They are unrealistic, unproductive, and detrimental.

Perspective on the other hand has a different meaning, “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view. The capacity to view things in their true relations. A sensible way of judging how good, bad, important. Aiding the vision.” Perspective is where the whole picture and all the facts for a given situation or event are gathered, investigated, and considered in relation to reality, not expectation, before coming to a conclusion. It is a viewpoint that is more concerned with facts, rather than desires. It sees the world as it is, not as we would want it to be.

As Christians, our world view is based on a set of facts that have been revealed to us by a real, sovereign, all-knowing, all-powerful, God whose control over this reality is absolute and unhindered. Knowing completely all the facts in every event, His actions are just and applied according to His will with grace, mercy, and love as He sees fit. He has stated the following through His servant Paul in Romans 8:26 – 32 (ESV) that, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He (The Spirit) who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He (God) foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He (Jesus Christ) might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He (God) predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who (or what) can be against us? He (God) who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”

Think about the implication of those words. I have been trying to make sense of the feelings that have been roiling about in my mind, my heart, and my spirit for several weeks now. A sense of the surreal, disconnection, lethargy, disorientation, leading to immobility and indecision. It has been a struggle to keep them at bay and I’ve had to force myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I’m finally realizing that it has to do with my perspective. Feelings are unreliable as a source of guidance. They are fickle, changing from moment to moment, and they lie. Facts and logic do not change as the wind blows. God’s word is fact. Jesus confirmed this in His prayer found in John 17:14 – 19 (ESV), “I have given them Your Word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I Am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I Am not of the world. Sanctify them in the Truth; Your Word is Truth. As You sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

Quite a different perspective to live by, wouldn’t you say? One is based on the shifting sands of speculation and the other on solid rock of God’s revealed Word. God is our source of truth in all things and all circumstances, “If God is for us, who (or what) can be against us? He (God) who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”

The problem is our perspective which was alluded to in Pastor Kevin’s sermon from Philippians 4:8 – 9 (ESV), “Finally, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

What are we focused upon? Our own abilities to handle things? Our own wisdom to decipher the meaning of what is happening? Our own resources to meet our needs? I understood that my eyes were looking inward, rather than outward, toward the things of God. He should be my provider, He should be my protector, He should be my wisdom, but He can’t be because I’ve taken His place! I’m trying to do it, rather than trusting Him! I’m missing the point that if He was willing to sacrifice His Son for me, why would He hold back anything else? He has already given all!

Very early in our study of Philippians we passed over Philippians 1:6 (ESV) where Paul firmly states his conviction, “And I am sure of this, that He (God) who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the Day of Jesus Christ.” Notice that the only name that appears in this verse as having responsibility for our lives is not ours! God is responsible for the good work in us that He Himself began! Our only responsibility is to trust Him. Trusting Him means letting go of our expectations. God already knows what He has in store for you and He reveals it in the book of Ephesians 1:3 – 14, 2:10 (ESV), “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him (Jesus Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him (God). In love He (God) predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His (God) will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He (God) has blessed us in the Beloved (Jesus Christ). In him (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His (God) grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to his purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Him (Jesus Christ) we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him (God) who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. In Him (Jesus Christ) you also, when you heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him (Jesus Christ), were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory. For we are His (God) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

This is the hope we have as believers in Christ Jesus, in our awesome God. He has not abandoned us. Perhaps, it may be that it is the other way around. I definitely believe that during this time, “… that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” Sadly, it is the first part of that verse that often gets overlooked, “for those who love God…” In the midst of this trial, God has given us the gift of freedom from busyness, the gift of time for reflection on the priorities of our lives, to ask one of the most important questions, “What place does God hold in my heart, do I truly love Him?”

More than anything else, I believe that God is reminding us to seek Him, to deepen our love for Him, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. (Revelation 2:4 – 5 (NIV)) “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20 (ESV))

Consider inviting Him in, not temporarily or till the crisis is averted, but permanently. There is one thing about this situation that I know for sure: things are never going to be the same. Making God our priority in life will be the important change that could happen in your life.

Kevin and I continue to pray for His abundance to be showered upon you all and for His transforming power to be at work in your hearts. We look forward with joy to the day we are back together again, sharing all the mighty works our Lord has done in your lives! For now, we will continue to find ways to be an encouragement to you, sharing God’s love and truth. Take care dear Old Goshenhoppen family!

In His Service,

Pastor Bruce