Thomas Paine, one of the Founding Fathers, made a statement during the American Revolution. “These are the times that try men’s souls.” This was a challenging time for a nation in its birth pains; today, as the leader of the free world, we are facing a global crisis affecting every avenue of culture.  In these difficult and trying times, we must seek to be as, “of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” (1 Chron 12:32 NKJV). The Coronavirus has become a pandemic reaching every corner of the world. Fear because of uncertainties have gripped the heart of almost every person now alive. The news feeds have created a fixation on one singular subject: “how shall we survive?” The accompanying question is “will we survive?”  Every vital aspect of society and civilization is now being shaken. With these major shifts occurring, our culture is being redefined.    

When unusual things occur, we must first be aware of what happened. Then we must ask the question why it happened. “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Eccl. 1:3 NKJV) Seasons change; they do not remain the same. God prepared the way through His Son as the directive for all living beings. His order was designed before creation for all things to work together in harmonious unity. The interruption of His divine order may not appear as immediate death, but like a flower separated from its roots, those who abandon God’s order and plan eventually wither and fade away. Decisions have consequences. What ought to be is established in Heaven while what exists is expressed under the heaven. “God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest — what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. (1 Cor.  2:7-8  The Message  MSG) A culture that has lost its meaning is a culture that has lost its way. What we see is but a small portion of what is currently occurring.  God gives us His prophetic Word and Spirit to reveal His Word to open our eyes that we may see from His exalted position in Heaven, no longer making arbitrary decisions based on the whims of fallen humanity. There is a way that seems right to the majority but the end of that way leads down a primrose lane to death. The scenery shrouds the poison to make it more palatable. 

This month contains the most sacred week on the Christian calendar. Holy Week began with a trial. The Righteous One, Jesus Christ was tried and found guilty of insurrection. His suffering which led to His death expressed the attitude that the world still maintains concerning Him. The revolt against sound doctrine is the same as shouting “Give us Barabbas and crucify Jesus!” The earth groans in labor and birth pangs awaiting its liberty through the vessels who are mature in Christ. It is dis-eased and waiting to be restored. God’s judgment against the sins committed by those who had aligned themselves with His enemies was through resurrection. Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead! He judges the judges of the world with justice and righteousness.

Those of us who fully identify with Jesus Christ have nothing to fear. We have already died and our lives are hidden in Christ. We have already risen with Him and we hold anxious anticipation for what awaits us in the future. When we understand the meaning of things occurring in our times, the next question is, “what shall we do?” On the Day of Pentecost Peter answered the question by saying, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus, and you shall be saved.” What was said then is being said now. As we surrender our all to the King of kings, the life of Christ is yours, thus delivering you from eternal death.