On the outside, things were falling apart
This week in the Dispatch:
I’ll share about a book that is fascinating because of the story but also very thought provoking because of the story
A quick look at this week’s Awesome Marriage Podcast
A word from Paul placed over the first half of 2020
A challenge in response to this week’s Insights
Something to think about
Books:
Most of us know that America attacked Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 with the world’s first use of the atomic bomb. This book focuses on what happened during the 116 days leading up to that event. History tells us what happened but this book is written as a thriller. We get a look behind the scenes and into the minds of President Rosevelt, President Truman, the scientist Oppenheimer, many of those on the Manhattan Project, and others leading up to the pilots who carried out the mission. The struggle whether to use the bomb or not was not an easy one and President Truman agonized before and after the event. There were those who favored using the bomb and those who tried to prevent it up to the very last minute. If you enjoy history, I think you will like this book and the way it is written, as it depicts a pivotal time in American history.
Dr. Kim’s Rating 9/10: This book is heading to #1 on the non-fiction bestseller list and I can see why!
Podcast:
This week’s Awesome Marriage Podcast is “8 Things My Spouse Has Taught Me.” Christina and I talk about the things our spouses have taught us and how God uses marriage to grow us into who He created us to be. If you are not yet subscribing to the podcast, you can listen and subscribe here.
Insights:
“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG
When I read this verse last year, my guess is that I just skimmed over it while reading my “Bible in a year” plan. This year, it really jumped out at me and gave me some insight into some things I have been thinking about. First, as we have all probably said, the first half of 2020 has been difficult at best. From COVID-19, to racial injustice, to Sahara dust, killer hornets, and swarms of grasshoppers, it is not what we thought 2020 would hold. In this verse, Paul is encouraging the church and its people to persevere through criticism and questioning as they share the truth of Jesus. On the outside, things were falling apart. Yet, on the inside, God was making “new life.” Paul’s message was, “We are not giving up!”
With COVID-19, we have learned a lot. Our leaders in both political and medical fields did not have the answers. In many ways, that was new for us. This virus is different and as it spread across the world, our lives changed in so many ways: Masks, washing our hands until they were raw, staying at home, quarantine, and more. Things were falling apart. Yet, God was working. Answers, although slow, are coming. We will have effective treatments and eventually a vaccine. We will not give up. For Nancy and me, I think the slow down has been good for us. We have been able to reassess our priorities and hopefully bring them more in line with God’s priorities for us.
I remember leaving the theater with Nancy in 2013 after seeing 12 Years a Slave. There was an older white lady walking beside us and I could tell she was visibly upset. Suddenly, she put her hand on the shoulder of a black lady in front of her. As the black lady turned around, the older white lady with tears streaming down her face said, “I’m so sorry.” She was bold enough to say what I was feeling. At that time, in my naive mind, I guess I placed racism back 1843 - the era of the film. The events of the past weeks reopened my eyes. Racism is real, it is here today, and it has to stop. The time for change is now, “and God is making new life and giving His grace.” We will not give up.
In verse 17, Paul turns his attention to affirming what is to come. Despite the hard times, the good times are coming. God prepares a lavish celebration for His people and things that will last forever.
This is what I learned. When things are falling apart on the outside, God has answers for us on the inside. He is always there for us and has answers that we would never have without Him. We can never give up. God is on our side. So we fight a virus because we can. We fight racial injustice because we should. In this life there will always be battles to fight but we never fight alone.
We can look to the future. What is to come is a lavish celebration that far exceeds what we suffer now and this celebration will last forever! Our real home is there with Him forever!
Challenge
Here are three challenges for you:
What have you learned from the days of COVID-19?
What can you do to fight against racial injustice?
What gives you hope?
Final Thought
If you had one wish and there were no restrictions on how you used it, what would you wish for?
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