Recently, a post on a friend’s Facebook page showed a closeup of a woman wearing a fabric mask as a precaution against the COVID-19 virus. The caption read, “The New Normal.”
During this pandemic, we say, “When things get back to normal . . . “ One gentleman from my Bible study said he’s not sure he wants to get back to the way things were. Being off work and housebound has given him more time to deepen his relationship with the Lord through prayer and focus on Scripture.
Many things characterized “normal” before COVID-19. We could go anywhere we wanted and didn’t worry much about germs. We went to church, hugged, shook hands, walked through crowded shopping malls, and gathered in stadiums or auditoriums at sporting events or shows. We sat down to enjoy meals at our favorite restaurants, earned a living and paid our bills. But many of us lived on fast-forward, our schedules sometimes leaving barely enough room for a passing prayer or a even a cursory reading of Scripture. We seldom had time to hold a decent conversation with family members and thought of our mortality and the lost only when these matters personally impacted us. All that has changed. Even if we get back to “normal,” we will feel the repercussions of this time for months if not years.
God’s version of normal began when He said about His creation, “It is very good.” In His normal, Adam and Eve enjoyed walks in “the cool of the day” with their daddy God. They fearlessly befriended tigers and bears, enjoyed flowers that did not fade, and air entirely pure. Their eternal spirits lived in bodies that did not age or fall prey to disease or injury. Evil, fear, temptation, and selfishness were unknown.
But then Satan presented a “better” normal, poison disguised as succulence. And mankind fell for it. We still think the normal we can create is better than what God offers. But our version will fail us eventually, even the good things we tend to make into idols such as money or entertainment.
Jesus stepped down into our world to show us what the Father’s eternal normal looks like and to begin its restoration. He came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Jesus said, “It is said…..but I say.” He said, “Blessed are the meek, the poor in spirit, the persecuted.” He said, “Life is about far more than eating or drinking,” and, “If you want to be great, you must be a servant.” He taught his followers to pray and do good deeds in secret and not for the applause of others.
He came to set the prisoners free, to give sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, strong legs to the lame, and a voice to the mute. His death and resurrection robbed the grave of its power and set us free from our bondage to sin. Now all who believe have the right to become sons and daughters of the living God, to receive forgiveness and cleansing, a new nature, and a righteousness not obtained by human effort.
His perfect, infinite love makes us bold as lions yet gentle as doves. We are more than conquerors, a warrior Bride clad in our Husband’s impenetrable armor, alive together with Christ as we wait for His blessed return. Our hearts are flooded with His light, our eyes open to the glorious inheritance we share with him. We count not our present sufferings worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18). And we look forward to the day when we will inhabit our glorious, eternal bodies just like our Savior’s (Phil. 3:20-21).
Assured by these truths of our identity in Christ and filled with His Holy Spirit, we can fulfill His commission as His goodwill ambassadors bearing His message to a lost and disillusioned world. As a result, new children are born into the Kingdom, and the new, divine normal swallows up the ragged old. Families, communities, and nations are transformed, characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, faith, and justice.
God’s normal will never be shaken by any virus, war, natural disaster or by economic collapse, or any of man’s foolish, futile plans. One day, His normal will bring about a new heaven and earth. We will return to the innocence and untouched beauty of God’s original created intention. See *Isaiah 65:17-25, Isaiah 66:22-23, 2 Peter 3:11-15.
Savor the words of Revelation 21:1-5:
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true” (New Living Translation).
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