I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NLT

The second week of the first month of 2021 has barely ended and we were relentlessly bombarded with the reports of the scourge of that dreaded invader, a mutation of Covid-19, transmitted faster than the 2019/2020 version. Wherever you turn it’s the same song and the selling of man’s vaccine solution.  Without giving any opinion neither joining issues on the efficacy of vaccines as the ultimate solution, I draw attention to our text of today, so we are not carried away and end up in the throes of fear and despair.

In this scripture two clauses answer one to the other – the one defining the origin of the believer’s inner life, the other the outer life. The life in the world the outer life is as seen and inflicted upon or experienced by every man; yet the true life comes from communion with God through Christ, that of unfailing peace which no sorrow, trial or tribulation can affect except we so allow. 

The enemies we fear are already captive to the captain of our salvation; and as we follow the non-pharmaceutical mandated protocols of masking, safe distancing and handwashing we must hold in absolute trust to the unfailing words of the Lord. Psalm 91:5, the 24-hr per day, 365-days a year, guarantee stands on your conduct, acceptance and confession!  Consider, understand and personalize Paul’s confession in 2 Corinthians. 4:8-10 (NLT/TLB). Shape up soldier of Christ!

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 TLB

Photo by J E W E L M I T CH E L L on Unsplash