Precedented Times
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
If you are anything like me you have grown totally and completely sick of the word “unprecedented.” I find it both overused and inappropriate. History is full of experiences and circumstances as bad or worse than the Covid-19 pandemic we are experiencing now. Through all of them, people have grown and thrived in the midst of chaos.
As an example, while Isaac Newton was a student at university, one of the last outbreaks of plague occurred. All the students were sent home to complete their year of studies. During this time, Newton developed the basis for calculus, theories on how light works, and began his study of gravity. He called it the “year of wonders.”
I am a big fan of sci-fi television, and one of my favorites over the years was a show called Farscape. A human astronaut is accidently shot to the far side of the universe where he encounters tremendous danger, unjust oppression, and terrifying situations. Each episode opened with a message the man recorded for his family and the people of earth . . . "Now all I want is to find a way home, to warn Earth. Look upward, and share... the wonders I have seen."
Newton and the character in Farscape shared an understanding. The worst circumstances we face - the most difficult trials - are also the place of wonders. Our God has a habit of revealing His greatest treasures in the midst of tribulation. If we persevere, the reward is a glimpse into the wonders of God! The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in Romans 5:2-5:
God is good, kind, and faithful to all generations. I want to encourage all of us to pursue that same attitude of wonder and discovery in the midst of this difficult season. God will still meet you here and now. He is even now declaring, "Look upward, and share the wonders I have created!"
As an example, while Isaac Newton was a student at university, one of the last outbreaks of plague occurred. All the students were sent home to complete their year of studies. During this time, Newton developed the basis for calculus, theories on how light works, and began his study of gravity. He called it the “year of wonders.”
I am a big fan of sci-fi television, and one of my favorites over the years was a show called Farscape. A human astronaut is accidently shot to the far side of the universe where he encounters tremendous danger, unjust oppression, and terrifying situations. Each episode opened with a message the man recorded for his family and the people of earth . . . "Now all I want is to find a way home, to warn Earth. Look upward, and share... the wonders I have seen."
Newton and the character in Farscape shared an understanding. The worst circumstances we face - the most difficult trials - are also the place of wonders. Our God has a habit of revealing His greatest treasures in the midst of tribulation. If we persevere, the reward is a glimpse into the wonders of God! The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in Romans 5:2-5:
"And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
God is good, kind, and faithful to all generations. I want to encourage all of us to pursue that same attitude of wonder and discovery in the midst of this difficult season. God will still meet you here and now. He is even now declaring, "Look upward, and share the wonders I have created!"
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