(4/1) Over the past month and even more so in the past few weeks the coronavirus has interrupted our lives in ways that none of us were expecting. Everything is changing and most would agree that we’re living in uncertain times. Public gatherings have been shut down, the stock market is volatile, businesses and schools are closed, travel bans are in place, and even commodities that we used to take for granted like toilet paper have become scarce.

And so, how are we to conduct ourselves in a culture that is stockpiling rations, hunkering down and acting like the world is coming to an end? In a day when so many are replaying doomsday scenarios in their minds, we must remember that nobody really knows what’s going to happen, and for those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ we can be confident in uncertain times.

At a time when so much is changing day by day, experiences are multiplying, and knowledge is growing, the challenges are also increasing, but those of us who have put our faith in the Son of God and been born again, we can lead the way by being "self-controlled and alert" because we have a Living Hope (1 Peter 5:8). The apostle Peter writing to believers in the first century that were suffering intensely under the persecution of Nero said, "rejoice, though now a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials" (1 Peter 1:6).

And we can, because we have a confidence that comes from the presence of our Savior Jesus Christ, who promised that he would never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). And so, we’re going to be attentive and listen, praying for wisdom to make wise decisions in these uncertain times, and having an underlying confidence through the Holy Spirit which allows us to say boldly, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid…" (Hebrews 13:5-6).

In this time of great uncertainty, when many are fearful and anxious, we’re going to respond in a way that is very different from the world. In fact, the apostle Paul says, "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you…" (Romans 12:2). And knowing God’s will, we can trust that God is here, he’s working in all things for our good, and so we don’t live our days in fear because we live by faith. He "hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" and so we can be confident in uncertain times knowing that God is in control (2 Timothy 1:7). As people of faith that is good news, because our God is faithful and he’s not panicked wondering what to do because of this epidemic. In fact, this is nothing new, he has seen it before, it’s the same story in a different context. The Word of God tells us, "Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time" (Ecclesiastes 1:10).

Today in a culture that is paralyzed with fear about the coronavirus, the stock market and the economy, every news anchor and politician has an opinion about what should be done and how it’s going to work out; but many of us are stuck in the middle trying to determine what the truth really is and what our response should be. For so many of us we feel all alone, wondering who we can trust, who’s going to be there for us, who’s going to stand beside us in this pandemic.

And honestly, that’s all we want to know, yet God has already addressed the issue, he’s already spoken saying, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). And so, if there is anything that the people of God need to do in this season with more conviction, dedication, and passion than ever before, it simply to humble ourselves, praying, seeking God, and turning from our wicked ways.

You see, sometimes the truth is hard to see and even harder to accept, but naturally we tend to become complacent in our walk as followers of Jesus, we tend to drift off the narrow path because it’s easy to have faith when everything’s going well. But when businesses, activities, and churches are closed and nobody can gather together, faith becomes a lot more difficult, and that’s why we need something to hold onto that will give us confidence in uncertain times. That hope, that something is the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who is called the Word of God, he is the one that we need to seek (John 1:14).

In fact, when he stood on trial before the Roman official Pilate, Jesus said, "I came into the world to testify to the truth" (John 18:37). And yet, many in our Western culture have believed that there are no moral absolutes, no objective ethical right and wrong, but Jesus didn’t leave truth up for debate. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). And that’s exactly why so many people are offended by Jesus today, because he made it clear that he is the truth. The political and religious leaders of his day tried to get rid of him, crucifying him, but on the third day he rose again, and so they had to face the reality that truth is not subjective.

Jesus is the fulfillment of truth, he revealed himself as the truth in countless ways, and in his resurrection, he became our living hope. The Bible tells us, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19). In other words, we may be rocked by the storms of this epidemic, the winds and the waves of our economy, but we don’t need to be anxious, because we’ve put our trust in Christ and have the presence and the goodness of the Spirit of God within us. You see, as believers we’re able to be confident in uncertain times because we have this hope as an anchor. No matter what happens in the coming weeks we’re not alone because our Savior promises to never leave us nor forsake us and he is our living hope (Hebrews 13:5).

It’s in times like these when more than ever we need to seek God together in prayer and in his Word submitting to the unquestionable authority of the Holy Spirit to lead, direct, and guide us through this pandemic. Even though we’ve been restricted from gathering together, we’ve moved out of the building and are worshiping together online. And so, at a time when many are feeling incredibly unsettled, unsure and anxious, hope can be found online Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at www.cccaog.online.church.

Read past sermons by Pastor John Talcott