As we enter month five of what has become, to say the least, a time of uncertainty, is there to hope? How long will this life of separation continue? Is this the “new normal” or just the “now normal.” What does God have to say?
Living under restrictions imposed because of the pandemic makes the fabric that comprises our Christian life appear torn. The inability to carry out our traditional Sunday and Wednesday ritual with God and fellow believers has many of us feeling lost in the wilderness. And maybe that’s the heart and soul of why we feel a certain type of way. Have we unknowingly confined God and transformed worship into a ritual – a routine – a location? The covenant of the New Testament (NT) led us out of many external rituals and routines into a new covenant, written in our hearts.
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Heb 10:16-17 KJV
Since the early 1900’s, real estate experts have stated that the three most important factors in determining the desirability of a property is “location, location, location.” (Wikipedia) Jewish worship of God was governed by the Mosaic Law and designated the temple – a physical building – as the place of worship. The designated location of the temple was Jerusalem. Hence, location, location, location. History records that the temple has been destroyed twice. Imagine the impact that has had on the followers of the Mosaic Law. By the way, the temple was last destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE (Common Era) and has not been rebuilt.
Today our church family, as millions of Christians around the world face the temporary inability to worship and fellowship in the manner we’ve become accustomed. Just remember the worship of and ability to communicate with God is no longer confined to the temple – a physical building. We now know God is Omnipresent. His presence is not confined to a physical building.
My prayer in May of the year 2020 is that we have come to realize that our hope is neither in nor confined to a building. Our hope is in what has been “written in our hearts.”
Social media has proved itself to be an invaluable asset for getting the people of God, the Word of God. The worship experience has temporarily changed, but the Word coming forth has not. And neither has God. God, like His Word is still Immutable and He has anchored us to Himself by writing His Word in our hearts.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8:38-39 KVJ
Written by Henry Hopson, Jr.