Being Very Careful

How careful are we today with this covid-19 virus situation we are in.  I remember at first that I wasn't that careful in the beginning.  At first I believed the news that only patients who were sick should wear a mask, and that we should just practice social distancing.  And then I heard about a man, so much younger than I am, infected with the virus.  Then I became extra careful!  I started wearing a mask all the time, washed my hands with a sanitizer when I went back to the car, and washed it again when I reached home.  I even had one instance when I let my guard down, and spent time with someone and I wasn't wearing a mask!  When I got into the car I quickly washed my hand (and even face! That's how afraid I was), and when I went home I took a bath!
These are really times of being very, very, careful with regards to where we go, what we touch, who we are with, because we don't know where this virus could be.
I saw a news report that suggested that even the groceries we buy should be sanitized first before we bring them in the house! 
And, just a little cough makes us wonder if that's a sign we have the virus.

Wow, talk about being very, very, careful because of this virus.  It's affected all of us.  And we must, if we are to avoid being infected by it.

It made me wonder - are we Christians this careful with regards to sin?

Ephesians 5:15-17  Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,  (16)  making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  (17)  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Be very careful how we live.

If only every believer would be very careful how we live, what a blessing this would be!  

We would be wearing "masks" to guard our mouths from speaking words that are hurtful, deceitful, immoral.

We would wear "gloves" to make sure that we do not touch any sin, commit sin in our life.

We would watch who we are with, where we are, to make sure that we are not contaminated with the world, that no "droplets" of sin would hit us.

We would "leave our shoes and clothes" outside their homes, make sure that nothing happens inside their homes that is not contaminated with sin!

We would be conscious of every little "cough", wondering if we had sinned against our God.

Are we being very, very, careful with our lives as Christians?  Here is an ever present consciousness that we must have as disciples of Christ.  This is how we should be walking all the days of our lives!

This "lockdown" could be the best time for us to not just be very careful about a virus, but for us to pray and ask the Lord to make us very careful with regards to our life, to any sin, that may have contaminated us, and seek God's protection as we go through our lives everyday.

Psalms 1:1-2  Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  (2)  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

We are to be very careful that we do not walk in the counsel of the wicked, that we do not stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.

Our "mask", our protection, is God's Word, the law of the Lord, guarding us from the virus of sin in our lives.

Let's all be very, very, careful.

FEELING PROTECTED

The COVID-19 virus is around us.  And though the virus is not airborne, it can be transferred by droplets landing in our hands, eyes, mouth, even eyes!  And so we need protection.  Doctors are telling us that the best protection is to wash our hands all the time.  We also have the social distancing required by the community quarantine we are in.  Wearing of masks for those who are coughing or sneezing, or even for extra protection is also advised.
Even if we cannot see this virus, it’s nice to have that feeling that we are protected, right?

We are also protected by those who love us.  My children have become very protective of me and my wife, since we belong to that segment of the population that are more susceptible to not only catching the virus, but to become sick because of it.  And so they have asked us not to go out anymore.  My wife and I are used to going to the supermarket for the family, but now our kids are the ones who are buying groceries for us.  Even going out to buy medicine, they want to be the ones to do it.
We’re adjusting, yes, but it’s a nice feeling someone is protecting us.

Psalms 91:1-4 (NIV)

¹He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

²I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, 

my God, in whom I trust.”

³Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare 

and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴He will cover you with his feathers, 

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Psalm 91 is a known song in the book of psalms that speaks of protection.  It’s a great feeling to know that we have a God who promises us that wherever, and whenever, He is always there to be our protection!  Of course this is assuming that we are dwelling in His shelter and in His shadow.  When we are where we aren’t supposed to be, or doing what we’re not supposed to be doing, we cannot expect His protection.  But generally speaking, our God is always there for us.

But do you know that God’s protection here in this world is not just for today, or for our life here on earth?  He is protecting us in light of the eternity we have inherited through Jesus Christ!

1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, ⁵who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

We have an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade.  Not here on earth, but in eternity...it is kept in heaven for us.  This is what God is protecting us from here.  We are shielded by God’s power, protected until the coming of that day!

Here is the real protection of God.  He’s not just protecting us FROM circumstances, but protecting us FOR eternity.  There’s a difference.

This means that, even if we experience trials, hardships, sickness, pain in this earth, the Lord is still protecting us.  He is making sure that we will reach the inheritance that He has prepared for us!

If that is the case, what is God really protecting?  Our hearts, our faith.  God is making sure that when we enter eternity our faith remains strong and steadfast, no matter what trials and hardships we are facing.

This is the protection that is sure, that God promises to keep.

No matter what trial, sickness or hardship we may face, God is keeping our hearts, our faith, so that we enter our inheritance joyful in Him.