Just A Little While Longer

 

Remember way back when the whole world was shut down by this pandemic? 

 

If you look at a map of the United States, I live in the upper-left corner of the state of Washington.  For us in these parts things shut down on March 16, 2020.  It’s hard to believe nearly 11 months has gone by now.  That infamous day feels like both forever ago and yesterday at the same time.    

 

I remember the schools shutting down and businesses closing up shop.  I remember sporting events being pared back and then canceled altogether.  I remember the run on toilet paper and hand sanitizer in the stores.  I remember shifting gears and working from home and the days of the week blurring together.  I remember how long those first couple months felt. 

 

If you were paying attention like I was paying attention and you were listening in like I was listening in, you noticed a change in tone during those first couple of months.  The raised banner went from We Can Do This to I’m Done With This. 

 

Folks got frustrated.  Folks got angry.  Folks had been pushed as far as they were willing.  They were on edge and edgy.

 

And if you’re still paying attention and listening in maybe you’ve noticed that not much has changed for many of those folks.  It is as though some folks have been changed by their choice at a deeper level than they may have imagined or hoped or chosen. 

 

To be fair, the year didn’t improve much beyond those early months.  Just fuel on the fire…

 

On the big scale…

·        Summertime was riddled with racial tensions and uprisings and riots with little clarity as to who was responsible. 

·        Fall was blasted with the most heated political campaigns and presidential election in recent history. 

·        Conspiracy theories swirled and backwoods extremist groups forced their way to center stage. 

·        Then the virus that launched the whole mess reared up again, continuing even now to threaten the minimal start-up we’ve been able to enjoy in our communities. 

 

On a more personal scale…

·        Friends lost their jobs.

·        Kids and teachers alike had to figure out how to do school.

·        Weddings and other celebrations were postponed.

·        Loved ones died.

 

To some degree, we understand why frustration and anger are still prevailing among many around us; many we know and love dearly.  Even with a new president firmly seated and a virus vaccine poking into communities, the suffering and grief and trials seem only to be lengthening if not increasing in persistence and honestly – surely you agree – it can be wearying. 

 


Perhaps you’ll allow me to call us back to 1 Peter. 

 

In verse six of chapter one Peter says: 

 

“…now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”

 

Think about how old you are for a moment. 

 

You don’t have to tell me, but I’ll tell you:  On March 2 – just about a month away – I’ll turn 45.  Not that old, right?  Times that by 365, add in a dozen leap year days and I figure I’m roughly 16,430 days old.  Do you know how long this whole pandemic has been all up in my business now?  325 days. 

 

Longer than I had hoped? 

 

Absolutely, yup. 

 

But, so long that my faith ought to crumble

or the deep driving center of my being ought to be shaken

or my testimony ought to conflict with my public witness? 

 

Nope, not really. 

 

It seems like a tough sell right now; to hold the line and steady our faith without aligning with those willing to think less than once about setting aside faith and testimony to join the choir of disdain, singing an imprecatory anthem toward governing officials or opposing viewpoints, but at the end of it all, will it have been worth it?

 

Friends, this has indeed been a little while that we have been maneuvering these days, and not without purpose in it all…higher than flattening a curve or curbing the COVID or any other story we’re told to buy. 

 

Peter says the whole of it is…

 

“…so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even through refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 

 

Imagine that a moment.  Your faith – worth more than gold, by the way! – and the testimony you bear is being proved genuine and pure; refined even, with each passing day you wait this season out. 

 

That is awesome. 

 

That means on the bake side of all this, no matter what and when our new normal comes about, you will be able to life up your voice in praise and glory and honor right up until the day Jesus is revealed.  And all this with the grand goal in view:  The realization of the salvation of our souls!  The realization of everything Peter opens this section with:

 

New Birth

A Living Hope

An Imperishable Inheritance

 

Wow!  All this is going on while we wait through this little while for just a little while more.   

 

 

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