My friends around the world seem still rather amazed (even astonished) at how extensive and extended the UK lockdown has been. Some have articulated to me that the UK authorities / government approach has been "quirky"/"bespoke", especially when others plan to visit me in the UK, whilst I find it difficult to go anywhere from the UK. Some feel life has taken off again, as they return to soaring above the ground in an Airbus, whilst others are grinding their teeth with the monotonous routine on one patch of terra firma.
There has been such diversity in covid times, each region, country, group and individual has responded differently to the pandemic. In many ways it reminds me of Judges 21:25. Everyone (almost) has an opinion, a strategy and pattern of behaviour. Each think they are right and sorted in their approach. Very rarely does each persons standpoint concur with another. There are implications to this individualism. How will things be impacted when we fully come back to "normal" and try to rebuild society. How will our lockdown stress, mental health, introspective patterns and self governance reveal itself in society in days to come? Most importantly, we need to ask - in what ways will followers of Jesus Christ be any different, and how can we impact this chaotic, climactic, and damaging time for the better ?
Where are your eyes, and where are you looking to go for joy and hope?
There have been numerous "coping mechanisms" to being stuck at home. Some read more, garden more, "twitch the curtains on others" more, or "work-out" more. The sharp increase in many stats taken show an altogether unhealthier picture. Food consumption has gone up massively - because people have bought online more and eaten more. Mealtimes became a big deal when you couldn't go anywhere - you needed to research it, plan it, prepare it, cook it, "insta" it and comment on the success of it (all publicly so that we can all see what you had for breakfast.) Netflix, iplayer, spotify and Amazon streamings have rocketted as has "bingewatching". The easy, lazy, option is to let the world come to you on your sofa, the more cliffhanging, gritty and emotionally testing the better. Sale of "booze for home" went sky high as pubs shut. One of the most shocking stats revealed was how porn site traffic went ballistic as sites opened up their "premium services" for "free" for a limited time, to those stuck "in the privacy and isolation" of being at home. We are yet to see how these addictions (and that is what they are) will play out over future days, but for sure this was not "free", the price for all of this will be high. Pornography is false intimacy and therefore an addiction to self-destruction. Eating more will not ultimately make you feel better about yourself, and you do not see or learn more from the TV through repeated drama, you simply attain a false view of life and appetite to be surprised by spectacle, something which in reality - offers diminishing returns.
Anything to which we invest in, driven by a hope to make us feel better, (especially at times of stress and loneliness) has huge danger and control over us in our vulnerability. In bible language what we are referring to is "objects of worship", or "Idols"... things we hope will deliver a better day. The idols listed above do not deliver, and cost way more than we are prepared to admit. Lasting joy, direction, purpose, and fruitfulness will not be found in these places.
Distracted or directed?
During difficult times we are inclined to look for a distraction, what in the past people referred to as "going to my happy place". It is the idea of being for a short time blissfully ignorant about the reality of life, for the sake of getting through immediate state. How have you been distracted during covid? where has your "happy place" been?
One of my favourite songs at the moment is the newer version of "turn your eyes upon Jesus" (video below). It was a song I sang in Sunday School as a kid, played on the piano (aged 7) and so you might assume that is what makes this a happy place for me to be. I think the truth, however, is far, far deeper. You see there is a superlative beauty to which non can compare. There is a direction we can gaze in and never get enough of, which never disappoints, and never becomes monochrome or tiresome. God is other, He is beyond comprehension, comparison, or competition. We can see something of this in creation, even my anti-Christian neighbours have been cheered up by the "wow" of Spring walks by the beech, and the clear night-time cosmos. They told me it was the highlight of many months, that it made a "lasting impression", that this was their "place of worship". However, this was just the impression of God, seen through the eyes of a sceptic, there is the full blaze and burning revelation - the reality of Jesus Christ.
" He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. " (Hebrews 1)
Jesus is Superlative. (Col 1: 15) THE image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn over all creation.
When we come to see His beauty, and the backdrop of brokenness in this world which he is revealed into, nothing ever will compare to him. His glory shines all the brighter in our mess. Does this mean that we never look to other things to fulfil us? Sadly, we are more stupid and sinful than that, and hence the reason for this blog question. Are you looking to Jesus Christ for your future, your hope, your joy, your certainty? It is asked in love, as I ask him to direct me from my stupidity, sinfulness of individualism and self service. The stark reality and irony is that when we look to be distracted from life, our lives become aimless. When we are directed to God through Jesus Christ, our whole lives become directed by him, profitable, and joyful as we submit to him.
In the next blog we'll look at what this means in application. What does it mean to be directed to God through Christ, where are we directed by Christ and for Christ? As we look to engage in cross culture (each with its own hope idols) we will look to process and communicate our treasure in Christ into different contexts.
In the meantime, if you want something to fixate onto, try meditation on these three platter courses from from the bible's "all you can eat buffet" (copied below). Even if you are going nowhere physically, trusting in this reality with a desire and prayer to see more, will take you to all sorts of incomparable places you could not get to by yourself.
Go well, invest well, live well, look to him. THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE.
love,
BLOGSKI
HEBREWS 1
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God's angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10 And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.[a]
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
PSALM 113
Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!
4 The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
COLOSSIANS 1:15 ff
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[f] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[g] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
