Certain Uncertainty

This past week an article in The Wall Street Journal stated that 72% of Americans today would be uninterested in attending any major sporting events. In a culture where the majority of our lives have revolved around the god of sports, it’s unbelievable to think that attending a sporting event is now of little interest to people, and that every sport event and season is in jeopardy.

There is much uncertainty beyond the sports world as well. The unemployment rate is trending toward the Great Depression-era highs.  While Covid cases appear to be on the decline, there are still nearly 2,000 people each day dying from this outbreak.  The information we receive from news sources contains differing reports on every issue, and there is even more confusion in government with the national and the local governments failing to come to agreement on important issues.  We find ourselves in a position where there appears to be no end in sight, and no clear cut answers of any kind.

This unprecedented time is certainly uncertain.  Yet, despite our daily questioning of what we are supposed to do, or be, there is one thing we can be certain of — God’s promises in His unchanging and reliable Word.

In the final two paragraphs in Romans 16, Paul gives his final instructions, farewell and encouragement to the believers in Rome, his dear friends, fellow prisoners, and Jewish brothers that have risked their lives for him.  As Paul writes under the growing power and turmoil of the Roman Empire, he is living in an incredibly uncertain time for the Church, yet, he remains focused on his one mission and encourages his Christian brothers and sisters to continue to work hard for the Lord to advance the gospel to all nations. He reminds his friends and us to remain obedient to their faith in God and His Word.  Paul gets much of the credit for the New Testament, but we can see from these passages that God used many people to encourage Him and grow the Church. 

In these days, I find myself asking, “How do I want people to remember me?  What Christ-like characteristics do they think of when they consider my life?  “Did I encourage them in their relationship with the Lord?” The only thing that can bring me peace about these questions is sitting down with God’s word, and being reminded that all He desires is my obedience, He is on the throne and He loves you and me.  “The Lord builds the house” and by remaining obedient to His Word, He will accomplish His mission of loving the world unto Himself.

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