You neglected the Rock who had fathered you; you forgot the God who had given you birth. “The LORD saw this and drew back, provoked to anger by his own sons and daughters. He said, ‘I will abandon them; then see what becomes of them. For they are a twisted generation, children without integrity. [Deuteronomy 32.18-20]
All God has to do is turn His face away from us, and the devastation of curses ensues.
That should terrify us.
As I consider all that is going on with COVID-19 currently, several things are glaringly obvious. I don't even know where to start really...
First, kingdom of "medicine" was not prepared for this. How could it be?
The kingdom of "politics" was not prepared for this. How could it be?
The kingdom of "money" was not prepared for this. How could it be?
The kingdom of "society" was not prepared for this. How could it be?
The kingdom of "religion" was not prepared for this... Oh yeah, "religion" that looks no different really than any of the other kingdoms of this world, but with the Bible and all... The Bible with passages like the one above... About God, and when He draws back away from us - finally provoked to action because of our neglect and abandonment of Him and His Ways - He will see just how prepared we are...
Actually, God does not need to "see" how prepared we are - He already knows. It's us who don't know how prepared we are (or aren't, as the case might be). But we are beginning to learn quickly as we are seeing with our own eyes all the systems/kingdoms of this world come to a screeching halt. Our medical, political, financial social and even religious kingdoms simply cannot survive without the favor of our God. Yes,all the kingdoms of this world cannot withstand what is not even God's proactive "punch in the face," but only His gaze elsewhere.
So the point is this: If the kingdoms of medicine, politics, finance, social order or religion cannot overcome God's look elsewhere, is there any hope? Yes! Our only hope is in regaining God's loving gaze upon us!
Religion, with all man's organization and aesthetics, but without real relationship with God, is as useless a (little "k") kingdom as medicine, politics, money, or social order.
When the Kingdom of God becomes first priority to people, then, the kingdoms of this earth fall into their respective orders (and are even useful). Otherwise, we are currently seeing "otherwise" played out in real time.
The proper "first response" to COVID-19 is repentance. Otherwise, medicine, politics, money, social order and even religion are helpless at best. COVID-19 has already proven that none of the kingdoms of this world were ready. We are seeing what God's withdrawal from us looks like.
Father, forgive me for trusting the kingdoms of this world. Forgive me for not making Your Kingdom - the Kingdom Jesus demonstrated and taught - more of a priority - because I too am feeling the anxiety of Your step back... Draw near to us oh God as we draw near to You!
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