Pressing on to the Prize

As I reflect on our world today, I am reminded of Matthew 24.

Many today are living for themselves.

There is no respect for persons, especially the elderly, nor is there appreciation, gratitude, thankfulness, or reverence for God.

As of this writing, there is a pandemic upon the land with no immediate cure. Schools are going virtual, creating anxiety issues for parents choosing between staying home with their children to help support their virtual learning or leaving them home alone so that the household remains intact financially.

Churches are closed and going virtual, allowing us to worship from our living rooms. But online church does not compare with face-to-face contact, visiting the sick and shut-ins, Communion, or the other programs that we usually experience in worship. Some say this is the “new normal.” In the midst of all this, we are to seek and serve. We are to pray and make our requests known to God. Second Chronicles 7:14 tells us that if we pray and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear and heal our land. God promises that nothing can separate us from His love no matter what is happening in our world.

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37–39, KJV). It takes the unity of like-minded Christians to seek the Lord in prayer for the healing of the land. It takes the unity of like-minded Christians to fall humbly before the throne of grace to seek the Lord with reverence and holiness so that He will hear and forgive, trusting His love and pressing on to the prize before us.

Sylvia Giles Bennett