Wow, how life has turned upside down! This pandemic outbreak has led to a life-as-we-know-it disruption that is the most dramatic that I can remember in my lifetime. Many of us have already been impacted by job losses, isolation, and life event celebrations cancelled; not to mention the fear of sickness and death.
Where do we find “life” in the midst of this whirlwind? We find life in the place it has always been waiting for us; real life is found in Jesus Christ. In the gospel of John alone, Jesus says …
- True Life is found in Me (Jn 1:4).
- He who believes in Me has eternal life (Jn 3:15, 3:16, 3:36, 4:14, 5:24, 6:27, 6:40, 6:47, 6:54, 10:28, 12:50, 17:3).
- I am the water of life and he who drinks from Me will never thirst (Jn 4:14).
- I raise the dead and give them life (Jn 5:21).
- I am the bread of life come down from heaven (Jn 6:33, 6:35, 6:38, 6:51).
- I speak the words of life (Jn 6:68).
- I am the light of the world and the light of life (Jn 8:12).
- I came to bring to you abundant life (Jn 10:10).
- I lay down my life for my sheep (Jn 10:11, 10:15, 10:17, 15:13).
- I am the resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25).
- I am the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6).
And finally, we have John’s final word. “This gospel has been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn 20:31).
True life is found in the name of Jesus. True life is found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. True life is found in the gospel message of Jesus. True life is found in the grace of Jesus.
And this true life, this abundant life, is not only for our future eternal state. It is not only for life here on earth when things are running smoothly. No, life in Jesus transcends time, and history, and culture, and geography, and yes even pandemics.
In this present circumstance, don’t just “lean in” to Jesus. Dive deeply, launch fully, and feel the surrounding love and life of Jesus. “Your life is hidden in Christ Jesus” (Col 3:3). Hidden is such a powerful word picture. You are safe in His arms.
No matter what lies ahead in this upended world of ours, your life is hidden in Jesus Himself; hidden in the sovereign universe-creating God Himself. Let’s share that hope with our families and friends and all who God places in our path during this crisis. Let’s create an unstoppable viral spread of the good news; true life is found in Jesus.