03/30/2020
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
I am the pastor of Metropolitan UMC. We pray that you are holding on to your faith at a time such as this. Coronavirus has tried to consume many of us and take our focus off the Lord. Remember God is still God and He is in control. He is still all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere. Knowing this, if I asked the question, "Is anything to hard for God?" You answer that!
As I reflect on how we as a believing community live. I see many who may not believe the Bible as GOD'S WORD. I say this because they refuse to live by it. Immorality is at a height. Some believe that God changes like our societal norms. However, the Bible states that HE changes not in Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." So, is it possible that the Lord maybe angry with His created human beings. When we read about Israel's experiences of deviating from the will of God. They were punished. In other words, correction came through exiles, famines, etc. But when the people repented God's blessings returned to them. (Judges, 2Chronicles, etc.)
Lets look at 2 Chronicles 14:7, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." This text refers to a certain people. People who are His people-believers, disciples, followers. If these people will lower their level of importance, communicate with God, repent, it connotes He will heal our land. However, the believers act as if the Lord accepts sin but we know better. Sin separates us from God. To be reconciled to Him we need to implement 1 John 1:9. Then we will be forgiven and cleansed from our unrighteousness. The text implies HE "will heal our land."
We are heading toward what we celebrate as Palm and Resurrection Sunday. As states are receiving orders to stay home to control Coronavirus. I believe it is God speaking to us to repent and turn back to Him. It appears we are that generation who practices whatever seems right in our on eyes as if God has aborted HIS will and standards on how we are live and have our being in Him. Perhaps we are not waiting on God to bring this pandemic to past. Maybe He is waiting on us to return to Him. We the church (the people) have gone astray, taking on the world's ways and forsaking the Kingdom things. As I search myself, I pray you will be doing the same in preparation for Resurrection Sunday. Will you be ready for the resurrection and the resurrected One when He comes (the rapture)?
