Where authority rests
While scientists seek to understand the COVID-19 virus; how to contain its spread; how it can be weakened through vaccination and ultimately eradicated, the government is having to recognise the unenviable responsibility that policy decisions belong to it alone. It seems that the mantra, ‘We will be guided by the science’, will not permit the politicians to pass the buck.
Recent revelations that both medical and political advisers have, in effect, breached the guidelines of lockdown, will diminish confidence in the leadership of our nation. Not surprisingly then, many people are looking for a higher authority.
Online church services and other virtual faith-based events are reporting high attendance. I wonder how many people, who are now looking into matters of faith, already have formed some view of God in the past but now are dipping their toe in the water once again.
The message, which the Christian Church (be it online or otherwise) has the privilege and responsibility to share, is focused on the person of Jesus. To speak simply of ‘God’ is too ambiguous and can mean many things to many people. Jesus calls us to himself so that we may know the true God – the Father.
Early on in his gospel account, John makes a profound statement, which in simple terms says that no one has ever seen God; but Jesus, being in a unique relationship with him, has made God known. Elsewhere, the same Bible writer tells us, ‘No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also’.
These are uncompromising statements which have no shades of grey. If we can accept them we will also want to hear these words from the mouth of Jesus; they are both a gracious invitation and a command at one and the same time. ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.’ Perhaps, like many others, you have a vague hope in God. Jesus is concerned; he doesn’t want us to be tossed around and bruised, like a leaf on the waves of religiosity. Instead, he wants to bring us to a more definite, more firm place. ‘Trust also in me’ he says. It’s almost as if he were saying, ‘Let go of your lightweight notions of God and take me as your soul’s anchor. It is I who bring you to God.’
When we trust in Jesus, we can discover for ourselves that, unlike our national leaders, Jesus’ authority is never deficient. This being so, nothing can stop him bringing us to God and to the blessings outlined in the penultimate chapter of the Bible where it says: ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’