19/03/2020
COMMUNION QUARANTINE
Psalm 91.1
The silence of this community quarantine has been deafening. But has this silence helped us hear what God has to say?
Many calamities have overwhelmed us, volcanoes have erupted, earthquakes have jolted, and pestilence has threatened us. All have been shouting to get our attention. But have we really heard it or as it passed by it also has gone by?
Shall we wait for scarcity before we buy our necessities?
Shall we wait for disinfecting before we start sanitizing?
Shall we wait for the lockdown before we follow?
Shall we wait until God doesn't call anymore before we listen?
How far do we want God to go in getting our attention? If He has to choose between our eternal safety and earthly comfort, which do we hope He will choose? God will do all it takes to get our attention for salvation sake. He is in an unending pursuit for His people yet He does not force Himself. He patiently waits until we make our choice. He is in the pursuit of you and me. He peeks for children who are hiding under their beds. He searches for lost sheep. He wrestles with Jacobs. And prays for our souls. His love is relentlessly calling us to Him until we see that the safest place on earth is in His presence.
What if the healing that we long for the world is actually waiting for the healing of our soul? What if this quarantine calls us closer to Him? What if this community quarantine calls for a communion quarantine with Him?
Here are some Communion Quarantine takeaways:
World's Noise or God's Voice
John 10.11 and 27 says, "I am the good shepherd...My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." Is God's voice still distinct in our ears? Or are we too imbued with the world's noise that we could not hear Him anymore? The news, conspiracies, and panics about this recent pandemic disease has been overlapping with the promptings of these end times. As if they are more real than the truth of the Bible. We need to turn off the world and tune in to the One Who's all the world to us.
Earthly Comfort or Heavenly Peace
Most of us are looking forward for things to be normal again, as if its comfort is worth more anticipating than the peace and joy that heaven brings. What if earth's normal didn't come again and heaven's special quality stirs up to become the new reality? Which will you choose? The promise for those who hears and knows His voice is that He will "give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone sn**ch them out of (His) hand (John 10.28)." That could not be taken away. Whether any tribulation may come, when we have Him and we are in Him, heaven will always be our reality.
Pandemic Pressure or Heaven's Treasure
We cannot deny that this pandemic disease has been a great threat. Fear has overcome us and in every corner lurks a pressure. Times like these either makes us abandon God or cling to Him. While this may overwhelm us, Jesus, heaven's treasure, "told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world" (John 16.33 MSG). Even more, He added that, "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to sn**ch them out of My Father's hand (John 10:29 NKJV)." And that could not be broken. It could not shake us, nor fear can take over us. The threat of this pandemic pressure is not even a pinch of the treat of heaven's treasure.
The world's order to stay home is God's way to remind us of going home. And if we take time to listen, follow as He commands, He surely will take us home safely.
