One of the first leads when we dreamed of what the Silk Route journey might be at the latter end of 2018, was the 2020 Olympics in Japan:
“If we traverse the Silk Road from West to East, or from Turkey to China, we could extend it to Japan and serve as volunteers at the Games!”, or so we fantasized. I remember still adding, “Nations across the globe all in one place at one time—what better opportunity to reach out to so great a diversity of people groups than this?”
Needless to say, this plausible idea fizzled out as the silk vision took shape, and most divinely too taking that the 2020 Olympics have been postponed. How much more though, has every futuristic plan begun to fizzle since Covid-19 entered the scene?
Of the far reaching plans we the silk plot, the following were taking root:
- To receive dear visitors on our journey, granting them exposure to His work abroad
- To host feedback events in South Africa upon our return
- To travel certain nations with tenth graders for discipleship and mobilizing purposes
- And, to further explore unscripted harvest fields along the Silk Road thereafter
In the spirit of surrender, these plans have been set aside. Kept in the dark is a phrase fitting to life as we now know it. Who’s to say what tomorrow will bring, or when the dawn will break through?
An article was released in the Time magazine touching on lamentation that renders well the present state of our hearts. The intro reads:
“For many Christians, the coronavirus-induced limitations on life have arrived at the same time as Lent, the traditional season of doing without. But the sharp new regulations—no theater, schools shutting, virtual house arrest for us over-70s—make a mockery of our little Lenten disciplines. Doing without whiskey, or chocolate, is child’s play compared with not seeing friends or grandchildren, or going to the pub, the library or church.
There is a reason we normally try to meet in the flesh. There is a reason solitary confinement is such a severe punishment. And this Lent has no fixed Easter to look forward to. We can’t tick off the days. This is a stillness, not of rest, but of poised, anxious sorrow.” (https://time.com/5808495/coronavirus-christianity/?fbclid=IwAR2uAKnQbihpNV-0Gr0BxAd2sh7oHIthICjQVTRgUnISPwDplPLvW6V88wQ)
Whether the pandemic is a work of our God or the adversary, if ever our plans to advance His kingdom override the will to seek first who He is and love His appearing (for whom a crown of righteousness awaits [2 Tim 4:8]), then a lockdown has duly come, and as a sure intervention of His grace.
Concerning the bride: one ventures to wonder whether a time of purging and pruning of false faith, hope and love related to who she thinks God is (but isn’t) has dawned? As such she faces trial: being confronted by the founder and author of this divine story, because she finds herself in opposition to His Word, the narrative foretelling of sorrows and pestilence, i.e Covid-19 etc, and what these particulars imply. For by it we see the “prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place...” (2 Peter 1:19)
Of the many harsh sayings and judgements in the Word, John, the forerunner of the coming King, utters the following in Matthew 3:
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, ‘O generation of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.’”
In an isolated or lockdown state, lamentation fitfully observed eventually makes way for higher ways and thoughts. Suppose God is now setting in motion a wave to fulfill at a supernatural rate what is yet lacking in Word and deed for King to come: how will we respond?
Our reaction to either paddle or pull out is accounted for. Upon bearing fruit meet for repentance, is He not faithful to quicken our ways and thoughts so as to prepare us to meet and surf this Corona wave, perhaps virtually? Or, to reacquaint us with inner room prayer as though we’ve been numb to its power?
Beloved, the harvest is by no means four months away... (John 4:35). May we be ever watchful and active in prayer. May we be behold the new thing that He is doing. Maranatha!