Our world is upside down. Socializing anywhere but online is now frowned upon and in several places around the world, it is against local "laws" (I use the term loosely, as these are better described as dictates by local government officials) due to the Coronavirus. We are fast closing in on the first year of "two weeks to slow the spread". These mandates have radically changed our lives. We can have an offline discussion about whether or not the mandates are effective - I'm not going to try to make that case here, I have more important items to cover.
During the current pandemic and all of the local mandates and guidelines of staying home, social distancing, or wearing a mask - we had an election that included on the ballot the race for President of the United States. You may feel that the race was run fairly, or you may feel that the race was wrought with fraud.
When the world is shouting from both sides of the road, demanding that you pick a team, remember this—Jesus never ran for office, never carried a protest sign, and never told His followers to take sides in earthly battles. His only cause was the Kingdom of God. So while the world argues, stand firm in faith, hold fast to the Gospel, and remember: the only banner worth waving is the one that points to Christ.
If it feels like we’re living through a new chapter of Revelation every morning with our coffee, you’re not alone. But instead of doomscrolling and complaining about the state of the world, James reminds us to do something radical—be patient, pray, and actually help each other stay on track. Jesus is coming back, but until then, we have work to do. So, less grumbling, more praying, and definitely more reminding our fellow believers that drifting away isn’t an option. The time is short, but God’s mercy is still at work—let’s not waste it.
We have been in a period where people will no longer listen and adhere to sound doctrine. Scripture is used in ways to make most any behavior seem like it jives with Scripture. Think about it, unless it is specifically called out in the Ten Commandments, man has found a way to justify any and all other behaviors as "OK" because God is a loving God (which He is, but that's not the full story!). Many have fallen into this dangerous trap, have you?