THROW BACK: Palm Sunday in a Pandemic...

What are you doing, Lord?

I wrote this poem today and I can't get it off my mind. What is God doing? I don't believe in coincidence. I do believe that God causes all things to work for the good of believers. I believe He can use anything to draw mankind to Himself. Which begs the question posed above. It's Palm Sunday and on this day, Jesus was heralded and praised and worshipped by those who would call for His execution a mere 5 days later. Jesus knew this, of course, but He had the benefit of being God. We cannot know what will transpire in the days and weeks to come, but I have a feeling God intends to use this American quarantine to His glory, our good, and eternal significance.

God will be glorified when this virus has run its course. We will be grateful for relief from this sequester and the threat to our most vulnerable. There may be individuals who experience miraculous healing from this disease, and that will bring glory to God. No doubt, believers have spent more time in prayer recently due to this outbreak. In that, God has already drawn His people closer. I predict revival, if we will trust and obey.

Of course, our increased opportunity for quiet time is good for believers. It is also good that we have been forcibly slowed in our existence. Prayer and meditation on the things of God are always good for believers. New believers will be born of this time, no doubt. All believers are focused on this holy season and certainly spending more than "normal" amounts of time praying, fasting, and reading the Bible. This is very good. It glorifies God and will lead to revival if we remember God once our lockdown is over.

New believers born of this tragedy will certainly have a changed eternity. Some believers who do not routinely share their faith will, no doubt, find new courage in their convictions after much time dedicated to prayer. Children with more parental influence in their education may develop understanding of things eternal public education simply cannot provide. Eternity will be impacted by what believers choose to do with their quarantine prayer time. A revival is upon us.

I see the faithful staring down a pandemic during the holiest week of the year. Are we at prayer? Are we reading God's Word? Are we taking this rare opportunity to be still? Jesus is the King they hailed on this day 2000 years ago, they just didn't understand His Kingdom was not a government or a revolution. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sin. Jesus is also the Risen Savior. He knew who He was long before we did. God knows what He is doing. Our job is to use this horrible circumstance to give Him glory, grow closer to Him, and do our best to impact eternity while we wait for Him to reveal His purpose. Lord, send revival!