I’ve always longed to travel, I love discovering and exploring new places.  (that’s not today’s confession – this is)  But now I confess to you that I rarely venture beyond the world outside my window and when I do leave my house, it is just to walk in my neighborhood.  That’s my world now.  I don’t venture much beyond its boundaries.

Why?  Well, there is danger out there.  How do I know that is true if I haven’t been out to see it for myself?  I turn on the TV and they tell me it is very dangerous for me to go anywhere that I used to go.  They tell me I need to stay at home a little while longer or bad things will happen to me.  (they don’t think isolation and not working are bad for me?)

I guess they know what’s best for me better than I would know for myself? After all, they are the experts and I’m not.  I should leave my life decisions to them.  They have continued to warn me about the corona virus twenty-four/seven.  Maybe they are worried that I will forget about this virus if they stop talking about it – this virus which is lurking in every possible place, just waiting for me to venture out.   Maybe they are worried that I will stop being afraid for even a moment and they will lose their control over me.

Maybe that’s why just two days ago they announced the arrival of the “Murder Hornet” in the United States.  This is true.  You cannot make this stuff up.  So now there is something else out there that I need to fear – something else that is out to get me.  (well, mainly honeybees, but I could be collateral damage)  At least this new agent of death, the Murder Hornet, is not invisible like the corona virus.

Although even its name, “Murder Hornet”, should strike fear in anyone’s heart. There is no mistaking its intent with a name like “murder.”  So how do I walk in this world full of killer viruses and murder hornets?  Deuteronomy 31:6 has some good advice for me,

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Then Psalm 23 reminds me that –

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”   (Psalm 23:4-6)

I can walk in this world that seems so dangerous and full of death, just as it has always been.  I am on my way home.  I am just passing through this valley of death on my journey.  But it is also full of life.  Life and death have always coexisted together ever since sin entered into our world in the garden.

And that will continue to be the case until Jesus comes again to establish the new heaven and the new earth.  In the meantime, stopping the living from living has no power to stop the dying from dying.  The cycle of life will continue as we wait for that new heaven and new earth to come.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,   . . .   And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ ”    (Revelation 21:1-4)

Imagine it – a time is coming when there will be no more death!  But for now it is time to “be strong and courageous” and get on with the everyday business of living the life we have been given.  It would be a shame to waste life while waiting for death.

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  (John 10:10)

I experience that abundant life in His presence, life that is stronger than fear of murder hornets and COVID-19.

sincerely,         Grace Day