As the COVID pandemic drags on, and lockdowns continue, it’s not unusual to see more and more people becoming irritable, anxious, depressed, and even acting out against the authorities. In some way, it’s almost as if we’re in prison: not able to move about, get together, or just go about life in the same way that we used do - the things that we obviously took for granted just a short time ago. The way we act toward the necessary restrictions now will be the legacy we leave to our descendants, when they look back upon this time someday in the future.
The Bible tells us not to be anxious nor to be worrisome about the future but to bring all of that to God. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” (Philippians 4:6) and “…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble,” (Matthew 6:34). It is, of course, much easier to tell yourself or someone else not to worry than to actually do that. We all tend to worry too much, but the principle there is that we are not to become distressed over tomorrow.
If we think that we are restricted at present in what we can do, let’s look at someone who was truly confined in movement for over two years. About two thousand years ago Paul, who had previously been a wealthy, powerful, and high ranking Pharisee, ended life as a poor, persecuted, and imprisoned Christian. Although allowed to see visitors, he was often chained to a Roman soldier and his movement was markedly restricted. In addition, he had a death sentence hanging over his head. He had reason to be anxious and depressed.
But what was Paul’s outlook during these years under Roman guard? While under arrest, instead of developing depression, he wrote four of the New Testament books, thus creating his legacy while under restrictions. These writings reflect his ongoing concern for the churches that he had helped create, as well as for the individual persons that he had met along the way, instead of his own personal circumstances.
He wrote Ephesians to the church at Ephesus in order to help those people understand the doctrines of the faith and their influence on Christian behaviour. He wrote to the church at Colosse, the book of Colossians, to confirm Christ’s deity and key aspects of doctrine. He also wrote to the church at Philippi about having joy in the face of suffering and anxiety, as well as to always be focused on Christ. Finally, he wrote to a friend, Philemon, about forgiveness and the power of the gospel to help achieve this forgiveness and enhance equality. Again, themes which are easier to speak about than do.
All of this while he, himself, was a prisoner either in a Roman prison or under house arrest and facing possible execution. In spite of his circumstances, however, Paul was able during those two years, to write four letters which became important parts of the New Testament. To write of joy, while in Roman custody, especially illustrates how focused he was on Christ and not on himself or his circumstances. He applied the principles of being anxious for nothing and not worrying about tomorrow and as a result left a legacy that has persisted for over two thousand years.
If he could do that under the conditions in which he lived, then hopefully we can maintain our cool and keep the faith as we go through our present problems.
And that is something we should think about.
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