Keep Calm and Have Faith (120)

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In times like these, where does your hope come from? Is your faith the center of your attention? Do you see and understand what is happening and why or are you caught up in the panic? The answers to these questions are at the root of why we dig into Scripture. By Faith and Not By Sight What you believe and why you believe has everything to do with your current perspective and mental state. In the midst of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, too many people - and far too many Christians - are losing their stability. Have you fallen into the ditch of seeing this as "God's punishment" on mankind? That's only half true. Yes, God's wrath is presently visible (see Romans 1). No, this is not God being "out to get" anyone. How do you explain what is happening in the world? Do the circumstances of this life cause you fear and anxiety? It shouldn't. You should, in fact, you should expect it (see John 16:33). Faith and Hope Is your faith in the government or physicians or the stock market? Is your hope in your job, your bank account, or your 401K? If so, you're hoping and trusting in the wrong things. Psalm 121 makes it clear where your true hope lies. Believe it or not, our study of Romans is geared toward specifically making this point. The single biggest challenge, problem, or concern you will ever have has already been settled. The gospel - the Good News - is and should be your foundation for dealing with and getting through any and every thing this world can pitch against you. "For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. 6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him." - II Corinthians 5:1-9 _______________________________________ Study Romans from the Beginning