Living in War-Time
Living in War-Time
Peace in the Midst of Aggravation
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.” Acts 3:19-20
“I fear we are using a sledge hammer instead of a scalpel.”
“I fear you have been living under a rock for the past few months.”
These are two (light) examples of some of the negative responses to a Tweet by Governor Evers a few days ago. My initial heart response? “Man, people are so stupid…” But, are they though?
People are sinful, but that does not make them stupid. Stupid is a term that takes life away from someone in our minds and lessens their humanity. They are still image bearers, and my sin is being laid bare by distorting the reality that they are sinners, but not less than that.
C.S. Lewis wrote, “The war creates no absolutely new situation; it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it.”[1]
We may not be in war-time, but Lewis himself admits a paragraph later that this applies to nearly all of life. The coronavirus creates no absolutely new situation. A Luke 12:2 reality is upon us: “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”
Lewis’ statement is very convicting for me. My permanent human situation (sin) has been aggravated by the Coronavirus, and I realize I can no longer ignore it. My response up to this point has been to whine (I am ashamed to admit it): whiny about feeling alone, whiny about feeling judged, whiny about whatever side of the fence I fall into on a particular day. This whiny also ignores that people truly are suffering in all of this. Job loss, sickness, loneliness. Maybe you are one of them…
But I can no longer ignore my whiny state…God forgive me for not finding a peace in you. Forgive me for assuming other people’s thoughts and motives in this time. Forgive me for not just feeling judged (based on assumptions) but judging others myself. Forgive me for not loving those who are truly suffering right now because of this. I repent of the human condition I can no longer ignore.
And in repentance… I can now walk freely...! I am able to not just rest in that forgiveness but now be excited that by His Holy Spirit I can turn from sin! I am a new creation resting in new life. What a beautifully opposite image of a whiny human being. How much more is that renewed self now able to love spouse, family, and God! That new self is able to serve the community in joy, in whatever odd means that looks like right now!
In this season of Lent as we prepare to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, in Whom we live and have our being, let us not miss any moment to die to self that we might live all the more truly in Christ!
Questions:
What human situation has the current state of affairs aggravated in you so that it should no longer be ignored?
Is there to anyone to whom you should repent?
What does refreshment look like to you as you live no longer in this sin? How will it impact your days and weeks ahead?
What times of refreshing that God has promised you do you most anticipate?
All Saints Contributor - David Gallagher
[1] Lewis, Clive Staple. The Weight of Glory. Harper Collins, NY, 1980. 49