The new buzz word we hear daily — ‘normal’. People are asking questions like: When will we return to normal? When is it safe to go back to a normal life? Is returning to normal even possible after the COVID-19 pandemic? But the first question each of us must ask ourselves is ‘what is normal’? For some that means the return of sports events; reopening of bars, gyms, hair and nail salons; the removal of rules that limit their independence, etc. Yet for most people around the globe, normal means returning to work.
Common sense tells us even when businesses reopen and people return to their jobs, we will never return to ‘normal’ as we have known it. Instead, we must be ready to move forward with a new normal. During this disruption of what society assumed was normal has given everyone time to reflect and re-evaluate their lives. People are realizing how much family and friends mean to them. Eighty percent (80%) of parents believe they have formed stronger bonds with their children. Do you actually want to return to the way things were? The greatest positive result is the birthing of a new social group, which is growing every day. Hundreds of thousands have turned to God. This is not a fact you will hear on the main-stream media; you have to search for it, but God is working miracles in every country affected by this crisis.
One individual said, “I’m not really a religious person, but I don’t know who else to turn to but God.” Nick Hall the founder of Pulse wrote — “from Nigeria to India and China — families are gathering in their living rooms, around 18-inch cathode-ray TVs, laptops and HD screens watching our services. The doors to our church buildings may have been closed, but the church has not closed. We are living through a Great Quarantine Revival, and I think God is just getting started.” Another ministry reported 117,000 people professed faith in Christ during an Easter virtual broadcast. EveryStudent.com said over 300,000 have received Christ as Savior. Muslims in mass are converting to Christianity. I found several pages, more than I can list, of testimonies like these.
Believers and new believers must ask what a new normal will look like for them. The dictionary definition for normal means conforming to a standard, the usual, the typical, or the expected and not deviating from a norm, a rule, or a principle. Sociologists add that normal is how to behave in accordance with what a culture has defined as good, right, and important. The first red flag Christians should note, who sets these standards? God has already given us His definition of normal and told us in Scripture what is good, right, and important. This is where too many believers have failed. They live according to the world’s norms and not biblical norms. The church as surrendered to political correctness, not wanting to offend anyone. What we have called normal Christianity is really subnormal Christianity.
Believers must remember that an even greater pandemic has infected the human race, and it began over 6,000 years ago. People refer to it by many watered-down names as mistakes and weaknesses. God calls it sin. The Antidote is receiving Jesus as Savior. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (Jn 1:9). Think about the death and destruction sin has produced.
Believers who follow Biblical norms are being given unprecedented opportunities. Already many are demonstrating God’s love through helping those in need, by giving food, providing hope and encouragement to their neighbors, and sharing the good news of the Gospel. In places under lockdown, the internet has become a powerful tool. But the greatest opportunity lies ahead. The multitudes who are receiving Christ will need mature believers to disciple and guide them through their new life. Long time believers should also examine their lives and ensure they are living God’s normal. We may need to change our values and priorities.
Note several important lessons we should bring into our new normal. Life is fragile. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here (Ps 103:15,16 NLT). The pandemic should teach us what’s truly important in life and what is meaningless. Solomon concluded his life had been “Meaningless! Meaningless!” “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecc 1:2 NIV). We like to think we are in control and masters of our fate. Adam and Eve believed this lie of Satan. Thinking they could control their destiny and be like God, they ate of the forbidden fruit. The world’s only hope is the same as it has always been—Jesus Christ. A hymn written in 1834 states it well. My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Be ready to move on to a new normal with new values and priorities.