We live in fascinating times. Watching the panic, surfing the ever-changing waves of information, and dealing with the very real fall-out from the situation at hand can rattle even the most stable. Nothing would be easier than to allow ourselves to get off our mission for God. There’s a rule in the military: until they receive a new order, the last order given stands. And so our marching orders have not changed.
Jesus told us to go into all the world telling others about Him (Matthew 28:19-20). He said to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). And He said to love and serve Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30-31). These are our marching orders, and the insanity of the times we live in do not overrule them.
While Jesus’s command to go might seem problematic in a time of restricted travel and movement, this is not the case. Technology has made the world much smaller. We still have the means of reaching out to many people. There are so many platforms we can use for face-to-face communication. Failing that, the old-fashioned telephone call and postal service still exist. We can still reach out to those around the globe. Many have a lot of time on their hands right now. An encouraging word from you might be exactly what they need. As people find themselves stressed, anxious, and even dealing with their mortality, there may be no better time to share the hope you have in Jesus. As the Church, we must not let this moment pass us by. We have the antidote for what’s really making the world sick.
Loving our neighbors should be easy in times like these. The situation dictates neighborhoods should band together and care for one another. But we both know this isn’t the case. When backed into a corner, the default response of most—even Christ-followers like you and me—is to batten down the hatches and take care of our families. Let us never forget the example set by those who came before us. The Church has a lengthy history of caring for the sick and those in need with no regard for their own health and safety. We’ve lost that. The culture has so infiltrated the Church that we often forget how to be the church. The sacrifice of Jesus remains our only needed example. He gave everything so others could live. He calls us to do the same.
In sharing God’s love and caring for our neighbors, we will do His will. We will serve Him as He created us to do. Being the hands and feet of Jesus allows us to glorify Him both in times of crisis and in times of abundance. Our mission does not change. Our marching orders remain. Now is not the time to shrink back or shirk our calling. In our lifetime, the world at large has never been more desperate for hope and in need of a savior. We have the truth. God has the power to heal and to save. We cannot keep that to ourselves. In these troubled days, our marching orders are explicit. Go. Love. Serve.