Mike's Musings: In the face of COVID-19, turn to God.

Greetings To Everyone, The past few days and weeks have been challenging not only here in Blackwell, but around the world.

The pandemic continues and is of concern to most people. The events in Afghanistan have created issues for many people, there were those who evacuated and some that still want to get out of that country. In addition, there are other problems plaguing the world including hunger, hate, and political unrest. The problems just go on and on. When things close to you start to break down, the events surrounding you can cause you to have a different view of the world.

When Covid strikes down people you know or effects friends of your children, it is only right that you ask some critical questions. It is important to seek answers although to some questions there are no good answers.

But all is not lost. I recently officiated a funeral service for a man I had known for many years. He was older and his health was not the best, but he was still living a positive life up to the moment he passed away. In preparation for his funeral I talked with his family and learned some things I hadn’t fully grasped. I knew he was loved by his family and well liked in the community but the depth of his love for his family was overwhelming.

A statement was made that came up time after time. All of his children shared the sentiment that regardless of the circumstances or what had happened, they knew they could always come home. “They knew they could always come home”. Powerful words, especially as a child or a young person or an adult with the world caving in around you. “You can always come home”.

How often through the years have each of us needed to have a place of refuge to go to? How many times has the future looked bleak and we had no place to turn? How about right now, are there problems to which we have no answers and we need someplace to go? If we are honest with ourselves, we all have been there, or are there right now.

So what can we do? Turn to God. God the Father. God Almighty. God the Creator. Our Heavenly Father cares for each of us more than we can understand or appreciate. God the Creator has more love and compassion for us than we have ever known. In the Bible, John 3:16 tells us that God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, and if we will accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will receive eternal life.

That is a lot of love. You might say that you have done some bad things in your lifetime and no one could love you or care about you. God does. There is nothing that won’t be forgiven if you pray the prayer of acceptance and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. There is nothing Jesus won’t forgive if we, his children, confess and ask for forgiveness. Think about it. There is nothing Jesus will not forgive if we ask him to. God is a merciful God.

He loves each of us and wants us to have good things in this life. Jesus died on a cross to prove that death is not the end, but that we can overcome the evil and eternal suffering if we will accept him as our Lord and Savior. It isn’t hard or complicated. You just have to accept Him.

The best part is, like my friend, Jesus is telling each of us, believers in the Word, “You can always come home, no matter what”. We have someone who loves us and cares for us. Always! When it looks like things have fallen apart, and you don’t know what to do or where to go, remember our loving Savior is there with open arms to welcome us home. The love that Jesus has for each of us is beyond anything we have have ever experienced.

What a wonderful Savior we have. Grace, mercy, and blessings to all.