We find ourselves in unprecedented times as the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on our world. As I write this column the weight of COVID-19 has yet to take hold of our country; we are told the worst is still to come. Our lives have been disrupted, we’ve been pushed into isolation, and each morning the numbers of those infected and dying continue to rise. It feels as if we’re trapped in a movie, but unfortunately this is our reality.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “Three things will last forever — faith, hope, and love — and the greatest of these is love.” Today, I want to remind you of these three things that will last forever and issue us all a challenge to live into them as hard and beautifully as possible.
Faith: A word that all too often gets thrown around and taken for granted. It’s one of those things we assume we have, but we aren’t really sure until we’re forced to put it into action. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” I pray your faith is strong.
The amazing thing about faith is that its power does not come from this world; it comes from God who gave us life and eternal life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The circumstances in the world, no matter how often Satan tries to convince you otherwise, do not define our faith. For we are called to rise above the world and rest our faith in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus.
Hope: A push to focus on what is to come instead of our current reality. Again, usually our hope is put on the shelf because we have it pretty good in this life. It isn’t until difficulty hits that hope calls upon us to lean in.
Romans 15:13 says, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Despite our current reality I hope in a better tomorrow — not merely that this pandemic will pass, but that on the other side we are a stronger and more resilient people. That hope isn’t based on where we are, it’s based on God’s continual promises of protection and provision, promises that allow me to experience joy and peace today.
Love: “The greatest of these,” as Paul writes, for without the love of God there would be no hope or need for faith. Love breaks down the barriers of isolation and division. Colossians 3:14 says, “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”
Even in these days I see the power of love working in our community. I see families turning their gaze upon one another in a way that’s been forgotten. I see neighbors not just helping one another, but sacrificing for one another. I see the church remembering its call to transform the world.
The love we are called into is not something we have to invent; it’s something we must lean into. God’s love is unconditional and resourceful, nudging us beyond ourselves and into a life focused on others.
So much of our attention is on the virus and our current situation, but I assure you it will pass. Faith, hope and love, however, are the three things that will last forever.
As we continue to navigate this new season, I encourage you to not be defined by the circumstances of our world, but instead by the eternal promises of our God.
Ethan Maple is pastor of Mt. Comfort Church. This weekly column is written by local clergy members. Send comments to [email protected].
