A VBC Perspective: Renewed Focus
VBC Perspectives are reflections on Faith, Scripture and the Christian life from within our own Valley Bible Church family. If you would like to offer a submission to the VBC Perspectives series, contact Nate Baird.
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.”
There was an evening a few weeks back, where I thought I had the Covid-19 virus and the thought of death became very, very real (Thank you Lord). The fear of death overwhelmed me. That night, I couldn’t sense God’s presence when praying. It scared me. Because I have been with Him for so many years, I knew it was fear/anxiety or sin that was making communication impossible. But I was facing death alone it seemed. You can have earthly friends with you but if you don’t have peace or a sense of God’s presence during the dying process, that would be horrible. I was frightened. But this fear helped identify a sinful attitude that had taken root.
I believe my sin was, I was too busy with the things of the world. Striving in some cases after worldly comforts or spending too much time in my own power trying to hold on to what I have. I had very little time with God.
It was apparent at that moment: I wasn’t quite ready to “meet my maker”. My heart was focused so much on the things of this world that my relationship with the Lord was only there when I needed His comfort. That’s not much of a relationship. Imagine behaving like this with a spouse or best friend, totally ignoring him/her for days, weeks or months with only little quips here and there. It would be unrealistic to expect a deep, meaningful relationship to spontaneously arise when desperate need suddenly appears.
Preoccupation with worldly distractions can subtly creep into anyone’s life resulting in a breakdown in our relationship with God. Though everyone’s story will likely be a little different, God’s response to all of us is the same; His “mercies are new every morning” and He is ready to re-establish that relationship better than ever.
We always hear, life is short. Well, it really is! Job saw it, when he lost everything he had and so did one of the wisest men to ever live, Solomon. After a lifetime of vanity, he said in his old age in Ecclesiastes 12:13 … “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” My night of anxious fear has given me new focus: to regain a sweet relationship with our Lord tighter than ever. I want Him with me during good times and during difficult times even to death.
May God bless you all.