One day in Sunday school discussion focused on how some people choose to live without borders -- they choose to do what they want when they want. Sometimes living without borders is not an option, but a necessity due to circumstances. Our circumstances now with Covid-19 seems to be a case of the latter. The disease knows no boundaries. It affects young and old alike in nearly every part of the world. In turn, this disease has created borders for us, which right now are the walls of our homes.
When we being told what to do, often we want what we cannot have -- freedom. Right now we just want the freedom to go shopping, to go see family and friends, to go to church, and to go to work. However, we have to know those freedoms are not available to us right now, and may not be for some time.
When we do not have freedom, sometimes we become afraid. There is a way you can obtain freedom from this fear -- through Jesus. If we put our hope and trust in Him, he provides us freedom from any fear we face, whether it is coronovirus, cancer, disabilities, or losses of loved ones. Jesus gave up his freedom for us -- he died on the cross to in turn give us freedom from fear.
It is Easter weekend! What better time to accept this gift of freedom, of grace, through the Lord. Life will not necessarily be easier, and our choice to follow Him does not mean we will live without diseases or problems, but He is there to walk beside us and ease our burdens, to take away the pain and fears.
No matter what you have done, you can have this relationship with the Lord. Seriously -- no matter what. It is not too late. Confess to the Lord that you know you have done wrong and are sorry; that you believe Jesus is the Savior, that he died on the cross and rose again for your sins; and that you trust and truly believe that He is there for you in all circumstances. If you need help doing this, contact a local church or look up a Christian radio station online. They often have links to pastors who will be glad to help you.
Now you can live with joy that he will provide for you when there seems to be no borders. Nehemiah 8:10b says, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (NIV)
The picture shown above shows the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem. The garden is the place where Jesus prayed to the Lord the night before he was crucified about the struggle to give up his freedom for us.