The experience of Lockdown in the year 2020 was an unprecedented event for all of us. Being trapped and away from a point of reach was beyond belief for many! Socializing and connecting has always been the topmost priority and a positive getaway, may it be colleagues, friends, church family, etc.
But a situation that arose in 2020 with a deadly virus, unknown to man moving around at a rapid pace, taking human lives, came to be the grounds for the entire world, to come to a standstill. No colleagues, no friends, no neighbours!! No one was in a position to help each other as we all were in immense stress, strain, worry, and turmoil with a panic of falling prey to the virus.
In a situation of complete terror, without having any kind of antidote and remedy, being completely incapable and powerless, each of us could not help but only have faith in the “Word of God.” The word of God has always specified denying our physical self to acquire spiritual growth. We often take the statement, “denying ourselves” to be fasting, but the actual denying of the physical self is going to a state of solitude and re-submitting yourself to God, listening to what He wants us to do rather than leaning on our own understanding of right and wrong.
Matthew 6:6 says, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Lockdown unlocked the apprehension of the Bible for many of us. Every house turned into a church and prayers were offered in the solitary confinement of our houses.
Lockdown brought each of us to know that: –
- “You yourself are the living temple of God.”1 Corinthian 3:16
- “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalms 91:1.
- “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalms 46:10
- “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” Psalms 91: 5-7
- “The world and its desires are passing away but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17
Ultimately, the lockdown gave each of us a chance to know that:
“Whoever is in Christ is a New Creation, the old has gone and the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. The Bible categorically tells us how each one of us was brought to a state of lockdown to have ourselves at a physically safe and spiritually enhanced realization.
Some Biblical stories below remind us of the lockdown state of the following characters: –
1. Jonah: – Disobeyed and overstepped God’s direction yet was administered by a 3-day lockdown.
- 3 days in the belly of a big fish was nothing more than an intense state of lockdown where he got to know that God’s plan was the only way and if we love God and are His children, He will correct our ways.
- The cry of Jonah in chapter 2:2, “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”
2. Noah: – Obeyed God and was saved by a 40-day lockdown.
- In the ark for 40 days, not knowing where are they going to land, not knowing their future, Noah showed complete trust in the Lord by obeying Him till the end and God blessed him.
- “As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” Genesis 9: 7
- 3. Israelites in Egypt: – the wrath of God for all but the antidote to those who obey him. A one-night lockdown.
- The Egyptian dictators would not let the Israelite slaves leave for their promised land. Thus, forcing God’s wrath on those who did not accept His commands.
- Exodus 12:23 says, “When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and He will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.”
4. Daniel in the lion’s den: – A faithful servant of God found himself as one of the greatest testimonies in a state of lockdown for one night.
5. Jesus in the wilderness: – Son of God denying His flesh to prepare Himself for a spiritual battle of saving souls. “A 40-day Lockdown”.
Our physical self often goes against and battles with our spiritual self-including our basic necessities like food, water, and shelter. Jesus being, “The son of God,” went fasting for 40 days long in the wilderness, to deny His flesh so that the devil may not tempt Him with the needs of the body. Jesus conquered His temptations and demonstrated His spiritual tool that “not by might, nor by power but only by the Spirit.”
Lockdown will always be a place where we will find ourselves physically hopeless but spiritually anticipating God’s mercy and grace. The reason we close our eyes during prayer is that we look away from the pleasures of the world and find ourselves right in the presence of God.
Questions to ponder: –
- Have we gone back to being our past selves?
- Have we gone back to being a Sunday Christian?
- Are we trying to pacify ourselves of all wrongdoings by putting a curtain on the changes that the spiritual time of lockdown brought in you?
- Are you a new being in Christ? Has the old gone and the new come?
- Are you physically in Christ but spiritually lukewarm?
REMEMBER THE DAYS OF LOCKDOWN, WHEN GOD WAS WAY REAL TO EACH OF US AND THE DESIRES OF THE WORLD WAS OUT OF REACH.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, each of us has lived through the lockdown scenario, we know how it feels to be in the presence of God, and we understand the importance of having a personal relationship with him, yet we tend to be activity driven rather than spiritually filled. The second coming of Jesus is close! Remember we live in a time of Grace. We can be active members of our church but that does not guarantee us salvation. Salvation is not for religious traditions but it is for those who believe in Jesus and accept him as their Saviour and Friend.
REMINDER: –
Lockdown was for everyone but Salvation is only for those who believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and Life. We all are privileged to go to church and worship God with fellow worshippers. Let it not be a temporary action in the church, rather let us be there to experience the love of Jesus, experience the power of the Holy Spirit, and experience the enormous Grace of our God in heaven, whose love is unconditional to an extent that He gave His only begotten Son, for sinners like you and me, that whoever believes in Him shall have Eternal Life.
“STRIVE TO BE SAVED.”
Mr. Shawn Edwards
U.B.M. Christa Krupa Church, Chembur.
