by Pastor Daniel

Introduction
With the current crisis, we are hearing all kinds of things through the social media, even in Christian materials.  It ranges from God’s judgment on the world to God’s protection over Christians.  It ranges from greater fear to comforting faith.  We hear God’s word from Psalm 91 that God will protect his beloved from all kinds of viruses to 2 Chronicles 7:14 that we are called to humble ourselves before God to obtain healing.
 
My mind went from one end of the pendulum to another making sense of all that I have read and heard.
 
The God who is Sovereign
One thought that kept lingering through all this sieving is the Sovereignty of God.  Even though we may not understand all that is happening, I cannot help to recognize the sovereignty of God over everything.  It is Him that all things were made and kept.  God knew and foreknew everything ahead of us.  While we are living in uncertainties, God is certain about His purpose on the world.
 
I can keep speculating whether the corona virus is an act of God’s judgment and plague on the world, or an act of God’s mercy to draw people to Him, I have to conclude that I do not know but God knows.
 
Will this bring fear?  It has definitely done so.  Will this ignite faith?  Obviously too as we know that all things lie in the hands of God.  Will this cause confusion?  Again, it has happened.   Even among Christians are asking if not going to Church a lack of faith and fear? 
 
The God who is Sufficient
Another thought that came to my overfilled mind was the sufficiency of God.  I could not help to think that there is nothing left secured and sufficient except the presence of God.
 
We come to the point that everything has come down to show that they are not sufficient.  Every aspect of economy came to a standstill.  Everywhere in the world was in the edge of collapse.  In fact, we drag to see what is going to happen after this pandemic is over.  The aftermath is more frightening that this current situation.
 
While once shopping centres, amusement parks and eateries are considered places of happenings, they all have come to a standstill.  Even churches all over the world have become empty for the first time in history.  I think this has never happened before.  Some churches were closed at some time in some place, but never before was there a time that practically all churches in the world have been left empty the past two months and more to come.
 
What do you think God is doing in the world today by this crisis?  That nothing in the world will be sufficient.  Not shopping, not the workplace, not any education institution, not entertainment and not even food will be sufficient for our lives.  I find something interesting happening - that Astro is offering free channels, America giving away free movies viewing in view that many are staying at home and may be bored.  Even with this offering, honestly, how many of us are watching more movies that ever.  I think we are bored as well by too many movies.
 
We come to this conclusion - only God is sufficient and in Him is there true satisfaction.
 
The God who is the Savior
One of my other thought is that God is the Savior through all these.  How do I view myself?  I was listening to a sermon sent by a certain doctor from Penang and my wife also urged me to listen to it.
 
I did and I came to see that only God can save.  I come back to 2 Chronicles 7:14 - that God is calling me to humble myself and seek his face and turn from my wicked ways.  This is the time to seek the Savior of our lives.  We have been professing that God is our Savior but do we humble ourselves and seek his face?  Have we turned from our wicked ways so that God can save us?
 
I must ask myself - what must I repent of?  I made up a mental list and began that repentance.  We must repent of our ways - ways we make ourselves look good, when deep within us is wickedness.  It must be turn from MY ways to HIS face. 
 
Conclusion
My dear family members of FCC, it is time to turn from OUR ways to HIS face.  Where we have lacked and slagged, we must turn to our God who is Sovereign, who is Sufficient and who is our Savior.  There is no other way of looking at this.  There is none to turn to, not even toilet papers or bubble teas.  I must turn from MY favorite book or magazine to HIS word.  I must turn from MY good impression to HIS good favor.  Let there be a time of humbling.  May God bless and speak to your heart.