Pandemic! Recession!

This kind of double-whammy probably happens once every 100 years. Congratulations, you’re growing up in one.

You may have already begun to feel the impact. You’re stuck at home and cannot meet your friends. You’ve seen the worry in your parents’ eyes as they wonder how long more they can hold their jobs. You’ve journeyed with someone who got afflicted by COVID-19.

But there will be more to come.

This kind of double-whammy probably happens once every 100 years.

For instance, you may not be able to step out of your houses without a mask for a long time.

School will never be the same again. Those of you who are studying abroad, and are now back in Singapore – when you’ll get to return to campus is a huge question mark.

Some of you may soon find that the jobs you’ve studied for have changed drastically, and your education may be quite irrelevant. Landing a job will be hard.

You may hear of more instances of racism, xenophobia and all sorts of craziness – especially targeted at foreigners. And you’ll wonder if this world has gone mad.

Such are the times we live in.

And yet… I feel so excited for you all!

Because if ever there was a time for the Church to shine, it is now. And you shall be witnesses of it. I’ve found great encouragement from how the Church of old lived radically in times of trouble.

During times of plague, when people ran away from the afflicted, Jesus’ people would (literally) run to the plague and tend to the sick and dying.

When poverty struck, Christians would give generously for the relief of others. And when certain groups of people were being ostracised and despised, the Church extended friendship and became a home for the homeless.

In this manner, they showed that they belonged to a heavenly Kingdom.

I’m seeing many of these kinds of things happen during this time of COVID-19 – the Church is rallying itself to love and to serve.

This really gets me excited.

But rather than tell you the many ways in which the Church is moving, I’d rather challenge and encourage you to be a part of this glorious witness to Christ and His Kingdom.

While the world goes the way of hoarding, fear, self-centredness and greed – you and I must be compelled to go the way of sacrificial love and radical generosity.

Not just love for our friends and family, but also love for our neighbour and the foreigners in our midst.

Being faithful to Christ as we await His return – that’s the real deal.

You may have been pondering the uncertainties over your studies, your work, your future. Everything’s up in the air.

But let this instead be the time for you to stand your feet on solid ground, recognising that all this world has been offering has been sinking sand and airy dreams.

This is the time to shine as sons and daughters of Christ. The way to do that is to follow the pattern that Jesus set for His Church, a Kingdom way of life that is outrageously different from the kingdoms of the world, yet so gloriously free.

The troubles of our present circumstances are never the main problem. Being faithful to Christ as we await His return – that’s the real deal. It’s been this way for the Church ever since biblical times.

God is here even in the depths of woe. This is the amazing grace that only God’s children know.

If your spirit has resonated with what I’ve shared, would you pray this with me:

How long O Lord, before You return?

Everything seems so dark. We mourn the loss of life, and so much of the life we once had. We waste away as we miss the fellowship of Your people.

So many things threaten to make us more afraid, more distant, more cold and more obsessed with ourselves. But we thank You that this is not the last word for us!

Even though this pandemic has brought so much sickness, Your word to us is overflowing life. Your word to us is amazing grace. Your word to us is radical love.

We know Your grace – how even though You were rich, You became poor, so that by Your poverty we may be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

So by Your Spirit, empower us to live like that. We would consider ourselves dead to our sin, and alive to You.

Let generosity be our witness to You today. Let selfless love be our witness to You today. Let mercy and kindness be our witness to You today. Let faithfulness be the mark of our lives today. Let the Jesus life shine forth from our lives today.

We could never do this of ourselves. From start to end, it’s got to be You. It’s all about You.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Amen.