The Coronavirus Pandemic is a watershed moment in history. Events are sequenced as occurring pre or during the Pandemic. Many are now asking, “What will happen after the Pandemic?”
STOP! What if there is no after the Pandemic? Some are speculating that COVID-19 is just the first of more to come. This speculation is not even something we want to consider as society moves into a complete reopening. What does the future hold?
James 4:13-15, New Living Translation, NLT
The Apostle James warns us, “Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?”
How many people planned on becoming sick from COVID-19 or even dying? Business owner, “Did you plan on closing or going bankrupt or having to depend upon a stimulus grant/loan?” What family members who had a close relationship knew that they would not be able to have physical contact with each other for more than a year? Who knew that we would not be able to say good-bye to loved ones?
James tells us that we should say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” In other words, our future is in God’s hands. This is great news for the believer. For we know two things about the Triune God. One, God loves us. And two, God knows right where we are in life.
God Knows
Coronavirus did not catch God by surprise. Your fears, your doubts, your worries do not surprise God. Believers from the beginning of time have had fears, doubts and worries. And sometimes, these emotional upheavals have even occurred after some tremendous victories.
One of the greatest prophets of all time ran from a woman named Jezebel. He hid under a tree, stayed in a cave, and prepared to die asking that his life end. Mind you, the Prophet did all of this after God honored his faith. The Prophet said that it would not rain for three years. It did not rain for three and a half years. God sent fire from heaven when the Prophet needed fire to burn up a sacrifice. Yet, this was not enough to keep Elijah from despairing.
Feeling the weight of fear, Elijah went on the run. He asked to die while on the run. God responded to Elijah by providing for his physical needs. He then began to talk to Elijah while he was staying in a cave. God did not reprimand him for a lack of faith or for being afraid. Instead, God asked Elijah a simple question. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (I Kings 19:9&13, NLT)
Elijah spoke while weighed down with his humanity. The omniscient God already knew where Elijah was mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Yet, He allowed Elijah to speak out of his own self-pity. God responded by giving Elijah a new assignment with specific details. God’s response clarified Elijah’s reality. Jezebel was not the one who determined Elijah’s fate. And Elijah did not determine his own fate. Elijah’s future was in God’s hands. https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Elijah.html
Your Future . . . In God’s Hands
Think about this – What does God see when He looks at you? What if God asked you, today, the same question He asked Elijah. “What are you doing here?” What would you answer?
God knows where each one of us is in life. He knows whether we are in a crisis or whether all is well. God cares for us just as much as He cared for Elijah. And He has given each one of us an assignment. To put it plainly, God had a purpose when He saved us. Salvation is more than just where you or we will spend eternal life; but it is also about the work here on earth.
Beware that the work that we do for God will not keep us from opposition. Opposition will come in various forms. There may be times when we become like Elijah. Our thoughts or words may be “enough, no more.” However, it is during these times, God will strengthen us and say, “Not yet. Your future belongs to Me. You still have work to do.” Jesus said, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.” (Luke 10:2, NLT). He did not say that the work will be easy. We all are needed in the Kingdom of God. We have work to do until God tells us that our assignment is over. Our future is in God’s hands.
God Has Spoken Ministry, Celebrating God: The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost!