Day 83: For Such a Time as This...

​This week’s weekly reflection on considering an irresistible Christian response to the current COVID19 crisis will focus on gospel advancement through grieving and groaning for glory. You can scroll back to day 71 and Day 77 to see the first two reflections.  Tomorrow we will resume our daily Scripture readings, meditations, and reflections.  Together we will find stability in studying Scripture!

Grief and Groaning

The world around us is learning to grieve and a friend of mine called this COVID19 storm a “pandemic of grief.” Unknowingly our culture is joining chorus with creation in groaning for the full application of redemption. (Romans 8:19-23) Only a Biblical worldview offers a comprehensive framework to grieve while providing security to hope.  Jesus is the gateway to share glory through our grief.
Grief is an acknowledgment that life is not the way things are supposed to be and a demonstration we are created for more than this world has to offer. Acknowledging loss is admitting we once possessed something valuable and shedding tears in grief communicates treasure of what was dear to us. People are now forced to interpret the grief they are experiencing through the loss of hopes, dreams, people, and plans.  People are looking for comfort during a season of social distancing. Christians who are met by Christ in our grief are called to serve the world through offering an answer for the hope we possess. (1 Peter 3:15)
 
Grief and Groaning for Glory
Last Sunday my friend Will went home to be with the Lord after a long fight with cancer. Will had become very dear to me, putting flesh on hope during my own health journey. Will embraced suffering for mission, eager to share the gospel through his own battle with cancer. Will was an inspirational warrior. I will miss him and have shed many tears over his transition home.
Late Monday evening I received news my friend and former colleague Tim Russell died from COVID19. I was devastated. Tim was a shepherd of shepherds, a man who modeled Holy Spirit dependence, and always pointed me to the power and promises of Jesus Christ through His authentic love.
Understandably, I was overcome with grief throughout last week, groaning for glory.  
 
Grief and Groaning as a Gateway to Glory
Jesus comes through the gateway of grief and groaning to intimately meet those who put their hope in Him. Jesus wants to use His people to show a grieving world a gateway to meet Him personally through the grief and groaning they are seeking to interpret. Now is the time for the church to grieve with those who grieve.
Jesus teaches, “Blessed are those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4) and God’s word reveals one day there will “be no more mourning, crying, or pain for the former things have passed away…” (Revelation 21:4-5) Jesus meets us in our grief, weeping with us, (John 11:35) while also giving us hope. (John 11:25) Through Jesus Christ we have the power to lament today’s difficulties while hoping in tomorrow’s promises! Thomas Chisholm says it well in his classic hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness, that through the person and work of Jesus Christ we have “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow!”
Jesus meets us intimately in our grief so we can touch others personally in their grief. Our Savior was “acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3) and used the language of lament in asking “Why!?” through His own groaning on the cross. (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46) Jesus meets us intimately in our grieving and groaning because He identifies with us.  Through our personal grief and groaning we are to identify with our grieving world, sharing the comfort Christ has shown to us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Jesus has overcome the troubles of our world (John 16:33) and your neighbors and family are looking for hope. Lord, please send your Spirit to open the hearts of our unbelieving neighbors and family and empower the Church to share the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
 
Grief, Groaning, and the Gospel
My friend Will called me to say, “See you later in Heaven!” a few days before he died. I promised Will I would steward his transition Home to share the gospel with others. Jesus teaches, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies it cannot bear fruit.” (John 12:24) To the extent the Lord allows I will fulfill what I promised to Will, already having begun sharing gospel hope with neighbors and friends.
My friend and former colleague Tim had a trademark phrase he would proclaim when he was touched by the Word of truth or was moved by the grace of God. Bursting with Holy Spirit authenticity Tim would proclaim, “That’s the Jesus I know!” Tim would shout this during worship services and speak it during time with brothers- “That’s the Jesus I know!”
Without realizing it our grieving world is longing to see “the Jesus we know!” as they interpret grief and groaning during this crisis. We grieve because we know we are created for a place without suffering, mourning, and death. We groan for the full application of Christ’s redemption! And we have a Savior who identifies with our grief and groaning and meets us in the midst of our struggle. Jesus comforts us with real victory and hope so we can comfort others looking for victory and hope during a season of defeat and despair. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
Please pray for our neighbors and others we are sharing the hope of Christ with through our personal grieving. Please email Lisa and I so we can pray for people in your life too.  We consider it a privilege to join in prayer for God’s intimate work to take place in the lives of your neighbors, friends, and families.  Together, as the Church, we will seek to advance the gospel through grieving and groaning for glory.