Masking the Struggle

Wearing my mask at Costco

We live in confusing times today. This pandemic has up-ended the world like never in our lifetimes. Unemployment has skyrocketed. The stock market is volatile with lower lows and higher highs. Travel and vacationing have ground to a halt. And sitting down in a restaurant has never sounded so good! 

There are many more questions out there than there are answers. And who do we listen to? A politician says one thing and a medical professional says another. Listen to ABC news and feel like this sickness may never end or listen to Fox news and feel like it's back to business as usual. 

And we are becoming more polarized day after day as we each decide how we will merge back into the lives we once knew. Is it safe to go out? Is it too soon? Should I wear a mask? Why is that person NOT wearing a mask? Are they six feet apart? 

The tension is palpable. And it is real. It's real in the physical world. And it's real in the spiritual world.

Paul writes in Romans 7:15, "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to, but I am doing the very thing I hate." 

Paul is referring to the struggle between doing God's law and giving in to sin. 

Walmart sign in Traverse City

He continues in verse 19, "For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want." 

This is the constant struggle of every person. Good vs. Evil. It's the spiritual tension every Christian has to deal with. Since he knows that sin leads to death (Rom. 3:23), it seems like Paul is about to throw in the towel as he cries out,

"Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death!?"

And like a late-night talk show host teasing viewers to keep watching after the commercial, Paul delivers the goods:

"Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord...Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." 

He goes on to say that Jesus Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death. Jesus' substitutionary death on the cross has made us right with God.  We no longer have to doubt or be afraid. We can rest assured that our struggles are not in vain and will result in eternal life with our heavenly Father. 

Friend, if you don't yet have the relationship with God through Jesus Christ, reach out to a believer and walk through the steps of faith today. 

Even though we are living in confusing, polarizing times, we can take comfort that God's plan will prevail. God is still in control. And "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6)."