June 19
DebDay 97: Who's Asking?
Perhaps one of the more frustrating things about our life at present is the lack of an "end date" in sight. Spikes in positive Covid tests this past week (thanks, Florida) has caused many in government to want to retreat, to pull back to Stage 0.
Many in our cities, churches included, do not want to be the first to initiate re-entry. They don't want to be the source or cause of a spike.
Many others are more concerned over the potential social ramifications than they are over the threat of potential illness themselves.
So here on yet another rainy Friday we continue asking, "How long?"
Maybe Psalm 74:9 could be our verse of the day (?)
"We do not see our signs; there is no longer prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long."
The How long? question is found throughout the Scriptures, throughout the centuries. God's people asked the question of God. A lot. (Google it.)
Job (the ancient Bible guy) asked God how long his suffering would continue. The Psalm writers ask God how long enemies would still be enemies, how long God would "forget" them, how long God would be angry, how long before God would rescue them.
Strangely, asking "how long?" is not the sole domain of mankind. God, Himself, also makes use of the same question.
Numbers 14:11 has God asking "How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?"
Jeremiah 23:26 has God asking, "How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets?"
Jesus, Himself, asked the question, How long am I to bear with you?"
My point?
We're busy asking God how long will this pandemic continue to alter our plans and lifestyles?
And our God is asking humanity, How long will you disregard Me?
It may be that God's how long question to us, the Church, is "How long do I have to continue this Covid thing before you cease from asking for freedom from face masks and 14 day quarantines, and begin to ask for My Kingdom purposes to be done, in you, in the Church?"
Revelation 6:10 says, "They (the martyrs who died for the gospel) cried with a loud voice, 'O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (They're actually asking that right now as I write this.)
The "How long?" question is not without merit.
But the "How long?" question is dependent on "how long for what?"
And it depends on who's asking.
-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau
