Pastor Richard Jenks

The Word of the Lord tells us that we need a vision for our day or our future if we are to succeed. The writer of the Book of Proverbs declared, “Where there is no vision the people perish,” (Proverbs 18:22).

The vision that is being cast today is one of fear, death and confusion.

Without doubt, the constant warning, to shelter in place, not go out and live our daily lives, wear a mask and do social distancing is having a very negative impact on our emotions and sense of wellbeing.

Even though all of this may be for our own safety and health, we, the American people, are suffering internally under the restrictions. Is there an answer to the situation we are living under?

When we find ourselves in situations we do not understand, we can turn to God's Holy Word for help. We need a vision to counter the vision of fear that in constantly being pushed at us.

I am reminded of the Vision of Caleb, found in the Book of Joshua (14:7-15).

Moses sent out 12 spies into the land of Canna and Caleb and searched out the land that would one day be his inheritance. He got a vision when he came to what would one day be his mountain. Caleb was one of the spies.

That sight would hold him all through the time of wilderness wandering. When others would die from the ravages of the wilderness, Caleb would remain strong, holding to his vision of the land that would be his possession and the possession and home of his children for generations.

At the age of 85, he declared “I am as strong as I was 45 years ago when Moses sent me to spy out the land.” He then said to Joshua, give me the mountain that Moses swore would be mine because I “wholly followed the Lord.”

Caleb had a vision that was greater than the wilderness through which he had to travel to get to his promise. Therefore, he was not overcome by the hardships of the wilderness that killed others.

If we are to survive this pandemic, we need to see beyond the fear to the purposes of God for us in this time we are now living. You have heard the phrase “never waste a crisis.”

In the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we should not waste this opportunity to reach out to those who are living in fear. We need to point them to the Christ who can deliver them from the fear of death and bring them to the One who said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly,” (John 10:10).

We have a hope for those who have no hope. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

If you are living in constant fear of this pandemic, then there is hope for you. Turn your heart to the God who invites you to enter His peace and find that His perfect love will cast out all fear and give you fullness of joy.

His word says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know,” (Jeremiah 33:3).

We know that there are many who are feeling broken and used by all that is happening and many are wondering what is going to happen and how long before we can get back to normal and what will normal look like.

We do not believe anyone can truthfully answer that question with any certainty, but God has promised those who will follow Him that He will never leave us and never forsake us. We may have peace now and live with the assurance that all will be well.

Pastor Richard Jenks is the pastor of Faith Fellowship Alliance Church in Butler.