‘Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Isaiah 60 v1-3

Today I would like to encourage you. It seems as if the world is still gripped by the spectre of fear because of Covid, and it’s cadence can be felt in the conversations taking place and the decisions being made. No longer is the prime intent to delay the spread of the disease until the health system is more able to cope. No, rather now it is to try and squash any significant reappearance. A giant game of whack-a-mole, if you like. One in which the leaders wield the hammer of fear.

Now, this is not to diminish the disease, the pain of those who have lost loved ones, or to scorn the attempts of those dealing with it on a day to day basis. But I can’t help but notice how the goalposts have shifted, and how much appears to be driven by fear. Fear of an outcome that will claim 100% of us all, eventually. Almost as if a darkness covers the earth, and a thick darkness remains over the people. Don’t face us with our own mortality!

That’s where the Church can come in. For we can bring a Light into a dark situation, and good news to a world without hope. That’s the gift we are given. To shine His light. Because we know that death is a defeated foe, and no longer something to be feared. That in the midst of all the shifting sands of the world, there is a Rock that is immovable, unchangeable, and in whom is found a place to stand. That to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

This is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and has immeasurable power. But be clear – this is the gospel of Hope and Salvation, not the gospel of health and safety. We will get nowhere by preferring the latter over the former. We must march to a different drum. My encouragement to you today is to pause, listen, and wait to hear the beat of His heart. Then, let you heart begin to beat in the same way. In that new rhythm follow Him wherever He sends you.