The benefit of hindsight of lockdown

I have a confession to make. Looking back, I really enjoyed the first few weeks of lockdown, with a few exceptions. For the first time in ages we had to slow down, we had to re-evaluate our lives and all the things we rush around for had to fall away, and we focused on just the things that really matter to us; keeping in touch with family and friends, taking a daily walk, enjoying the countryside.  I loved the spring weather, beautiful flowers and green leaves budding, the quietness and hearing the birdsong, but most of all having more time to spend with Jesus every day. 

I’m retired so I don’t have the hassle of going to work, but life can nevertheless be pretty busy and now I had space and time.  Others of you may have been seriously challenged with having to work from home and home school your children, or keep bored teenagers in rein. Some of you may have been frightened by the virus or fallen ill but every single one of us has had our life fundamentally shifted.

Some may not have enjoyed the whole lockdown, but I know many have thanked God for it and the ability it has given us to reassess our life and priorities.

This last week I fell back into my old ways, trying to fill every waking moment with something. God had to really speak to me and ask ‘do I really want this or do I want to go back to a more measured life?’ My new normal, my new reset means I am not going to fill every single hour with something but I’m going to slow down, but most of all focus on Jesus, have quality time with him. I need the space to have time to do things well, to think and to spend with people, not squeeze them into my other activities.

So I encourage you, what’s your new normal, what’s your reset. Is it to rush off to the beaches with everyone else, to be first in the queue at the restaurants, pubs and clubs? Or is it to say that this lockdown has had a fundamental effect on my life and one I want to take into my new normal, to live at a more measured, more meaningful, more fruitful pace.

It reminds me of the passage I keep coming back to in Joshua 3: 2 - 4.  After three days the officers went throughout the camp, ³ giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. ⁴ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. 

The Israelites had to follow the ark because they had never been that way before. The ark represents for us the presence of God through his Holy Spirit.  If we’re going to follow him effectively, then we must take time to be with him and find out where he is going and what he is doing. None of us have been this way before.

This lockdown has given me the time to re-evaluate my life and it has been liberating. Your life will be different but I hope you too have been able to reassess your priorities and the things that really matter to you. I trust your relationship with God is closer, more trusting and more loving; that you have an increasing revelation of God’s love for you and what he is calling you to.

God has an amazing plan for his people, he is taking us to places we have never been before. The most important thing is that we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and that we follow the Holy Spirit.

Social distancing to bring the presence of God

² After three days the officers went throughout the camp, ³ giving orders to the people: ‘When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. ⁴ Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.’ Joshua 3: 2 – 4

River Jordan today

When the Israelites set out to cross the Jordan, God gave very specific instructions about what to do. He would provide the miracle of drying up the River Jordan, which was in full flood. The Israelites just had to follow the ark into the riverbed and cross over. However there was one important instruction, they must keep a distance of 2000 cubits or 900 metres. That is quite a distance.

When reading this recently, I immediately thought of social distancing. In the UK at this time, due to COVID19, everyone must keep two meters apart.  Both instructions to keep distance are for people’s safety. At this virus time, it is to reduce the possibility of catching the disease. When crossing the Jordan it was to avoid accidentally touching or coming into contact with the ark.

The ark represented the presence of God, which is both holy and precious. Not something to be treated casually. Uzzah discovered to his cost that touching the ark, no matter how well intended, meant the loss of his life (2 Samuel 6).

God made sure with his social distancing there was absolutely no chance of anyone coming near the ark. At 900 meters away people could hardly see the ark, let alone get close to it. Don’t forget the Israelites had all their children, sheep and goats to cross over, and none of these have any idea about social distancing. Giving a clearance of 900 meters meant that even a flock of wayward sheep could be retrieved, before they became entangled in the priests holding up the ark in the middle of the riverbed. 

Even today, God’s holy presence is still not something to be treated lightly or casually. As we pursue God, to draw nearer and know him better, his presence will still kill the flesh. This is a good thing if we are prepared, but are we ready for what may have to go? Our preferences, opinions, prejudices will be exposed, and will need to be placed on the altar if we are serious about seeking the presence of God. Consider what sacred cows we may have that will need to be sacrificed.  However everything we give to God will seem to be very unimportant when we have the very presence of Jesus instead.

Our lifestyles may have been significantly altered by the virus, but if the presence of God comes in manifest power and glory, not just our lives, but society itself will be even further changed. Isn’t this what we desire? To bring the very presence of Jesus to a hurting, dying world with great signs and wonders. But it is costly.

The Welsh and Hebridean revivals showed that society was fundamentally altered, and not everyone liked it. Those who lived through those revivals though, and embraced God’s presence had their lives transformed till the day they died.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12: 1