Hope - The need of the hour!

As the nation continues to combat with the pandemic, we are desperately waiting for the Government, science and health departments to soon come up with appropriate measures to keep this Pandemic from affecting lives and ensure protection. The fear of death has gripped every heart, however famous and powerful one might be. Let me reiterate, Coronavirus did not introduce death to this world, death already existed.

The Bible records God did not intend to create people and want them dead. It was the first man who disobeyed and tampered with the freedom of choice that resulted in sin and death being introduced. The Bible states, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people, because all sinned.”. Do you know that it is estimated approximately 150,000 people die each day across the globe?

No one is excluded, no one is spared of the risk. I emphasize this phrase quite often  “No one is completely free from the risk”, because it reminds us that we are all human, however divine we may try to pose ourselves. We don’t have control over death. Many rose over a period of time and claimed to have the answer to man’s problem, gained a big following, but were utter failures because they couldn’t guarantee their own immortality. After their death ‘Trusts’ were formed, faith was institutionalized, and sadly in many cases faith was also commercialized.

The great religious meetings which were conducted in the past has now switched to the virtual platform keeping hold of their followers, but no one has an answer to the problem. The best measures are still not a fool proof method. Let us understand we are not on the other side of the situation where we can guarantee things, but just predicting things to create a difference.

We definitely need divine intervention. We need God to be merciful unto us, forgive our grave sins, grant life and that too life in abundance. Since the Bible states, through one man many were made sinners and death was the result, it also states that through one-man's death on the cross we were made righteous and we find life.  There is hope in God and our lives do not merely end on this earth. Let us look unto God in humility and ask for His divine forgiveness and restoration.

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Who is our Savior?

We hear so many interpretations as to finding the cause and then the reasons why we aren't able to mitigate effectively and will it ever end? We all agree to a larger extent that we are ardently obeying and following the instructions by Government, health professionals, experts and now what? Any time in the history of pain and suffering when things are in grave danger, we think where is God? Since the Temple, Mosques and Churches remain shut. Being part of the social network I keep hearing some rough debates constantly being picked up trying to disapprove the existence of God and blame God per se, some picking the lapses of the Government and throwing sharp criticism over it, some condemning a particular country who they think is the cause for all problem. How does it matter to all of us is the question?

First time in history the whole world is battling together for survival. According to BBC, a total of 81% of the global workforce of 3.3 billion people have had their workplace fully or partly closed. Four out of five people's job is hit by pandemic. The outbreak is expected to wipe out 6.7% of working hours across the world during the second quarter of 2020. That is the equivalent of 195 million full-time workers losing their jobs.

It is time to look unto God whom we grieved with our wretchedness and most often tampered the freedom God has given to choose between right and wrong. Have you noticed when all things were working good and things were favorable we defined God, we defined religion, we defined who is big and who is small, we defined what is right and wrong, we defined moral law, we defined who the minorities should be, we defined who is entitled for privilege and who should serve us. Now when God had to bring things to a halt, our focus is turning on God to help us or we still think we can survive on our own?

Al Jazeera news reports that the global domestic violence have increased drastically and in India nearly one-third of women say they have experienced domestic violence. Misuse of power and role are at the peak unfortunately. And now with liquor shops opened in India people are flooding to get their share. The reaction though is ambiguous but for certain, cannot have a positive impact. Let me share some mixed comments published in twitter,

Let us understand because we are relationally intertwined, any breach of moral rules will adversely affect another. This may not be evident at the time, but the consequences will show up later. The hurt will compound with each small violation. God wants us to know Him and restore our relationship with Him. Can we ask God to have mercy on us? These are the words of Jesus in the Bible which says, “In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”.  Dan Allender states “Crisis exists to remind us that we are fundamentally not in charge.”. God is in charge already. Can we set our ways right, perspectives right and restore our relationship with God and human beings with love?

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With the fragmented pieces of hope!

Times like this, when the catastrophe and challenges are extended with no clue of restoration, our hearts seem to give up on hope. Especially, the poor, the migrant labors and people living in slums are victims of hunger and deprived of basic necessities. Study says, more people are likely to die out of hunger than the Coronovirus per se if this is going to continue.

If you notice, people from all parts of the world especially the migrant laborers were stranded and left in utter despair without food and shelter. Thankfully, agencies like government, Non-governmental organizations and religious sects helped these poor people stranded with food, now and then. Since the lockdown came up so suddenly there are so many who are impoverished and walking back home to an extent of 800 to 1200 kms home. It is really pathetic! Governments from all parts of the world are making arrangements to help them return home.

Another side of the story is the war in most part of the world due to hatred, which was a perennial problem, has taken a temporary halt. Millions were dying including innocent children due to the hatred of mankind. But sadly, there are still cases in India where poor people in the name of caste and creed are secluded and not allowed to take water too from the well and not allowed to get anything from the shops. These discrimination are still a reality, clearly ignored by the media.

People question how to be hopeful in times like this when the dangers of being infected are continually bothering and many realities of hatred and seclusion are still prevalent but unaddressed. They are brought up merely for political reasons. Yes, dear friends, people are forced to deal with so many uncertainties. In the words of David Augsburger who says, “No one can live without hope.… It is hope that heals. Hope is the basic energy of civilization, of social existence, of individual life.”. 

There is one underlying reason why so many people near and far have lost hope: the group of people most responsible for offering hope to the world have failed to display it. Even if it is displayed sporadically it is exhibited based on color, caste and creed. The forces of evil want you to give up on hope so that it can lead you so far into a desert of despair that you’re left spiritually blind, deaf, and dumb. It is said in a Bible, “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those who hope in his unfailing love”. 

Any challenges however serious it is cannot negate the existence of the creator, but only establishes the sovereign rule of God. He is at work restoring to the original form of love and to the purpose for which we are all created. We need forgiveness from our sins and from our rebellion from God our creator. Can we ask God to restore hope and be merciful to us?

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Are we not done with the disparity yet?

Most of the people are victims of some form of discrimination based on caste, gender, creed and so on. For example discrimination based on caste in rural areas where people are categorized as someone from a lower caste therefore have a lower status making them vulnerable to abuse of various kinds. They are treated as if they are worthless human beings. The basic privileges are limited, in most cases, denied to such people group. On the other side of the globe, the western world has so much racial discrimination, the white considering themselves superior than the blacks or immigrants and outrightly show hatred in many cases.

Now, the power and position struggles are another battle which is also reflecting in this pandemic, where one country plots to destroy the world and brings it to submission. Are we not yet done with our disparity?

If we do not learn our lesson in time like this when do you expect to learn about humanity and divinity? Is Corona virus affecting people based on status, gender, religion and power? We all know the answer to that question. I guess Coronavirus to a larger extent is inculcating the right perspective of human being in such a time like this. Common individuals, NGOs, citizens, are now concerned about those who are struggling without food and reaching out to them.

In true sense the gestures of love is exemplified. This is how humans are made, to love one another. The Bible is constantly talking about love because He demonstrated His love to all on the cross of Calvary to offer salvation and forgiveness of sins. Love your neighbor irrespective of caste, creed and gender. In some of the religious scriptures it is said, hate those who are not followers of your faith. But in the Bible it says, “If you do what is good to those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that....Love your enemies do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great and you will be the children of most high". For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. May God keep us safe and help those who are stranded and have lost their loved ones. Let us call them if possible and speak the words of hope and love.

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Human response to divinity!

A recent article in the news spoke about our mitigation and response plan to any crisis, especially when it is a plague. During this Covid-19 many religious people have turned to their religious responses. Some looking to their renowned spiritual leaders to know if they have anything to say, if any words of wisdom or mantras to keep one safe and protected. But the Government's directives and protocols request all citizen to “Stay home & Stay Safe”, because at this point, everyone are worried about their personal safety. A time which proves to mankind that no one is greater than God.

Some of us have watched the movie, “The Ten Commandments” won the Academy Award in 1957 in which God prescribed the ten commandments for the goodness and well-being of humans. The first commandment says, “I am the Lord thy God! Thou shalt have no other Gods before me! Well, this is not about a religious emphasis. The fundamental truth is when man tries to replace God and create a God of his own imagination; and in some cases, people thought they can become God themselves and started playing God, skewing the moral laws to suit their imagination, all problems started.

A recent news highlighted that a particular religious system refused to keep their Shrine, (place of worship) closed because they believed Corona wouldn’t affect their religious institution. But sadly, they failed to realize that they are creating a threat to others in the process and becoming the cause for more to be infected. They also failed to realize that structures, however magnificent it can be, don’t hold God. If you read the world history and Bible narratives, after Jesus was crucified the tomb was sealed with an immovable large stone, but then Bible and history records the stone was rolled away.

Now, there are others who are engaged with actions that create connection and care. They do not directly address the pandemic, but nonetheless offer them emotional relief. People have always searched for meaning in their misfortunes in difficult times. It can be comforting to believe that things happen for a reason and something can be learned in chaotic situations.

In Christian worldview plagues are seen as God’s response to human debauchery and trying to make God for themselves that do not hold-up, cling to renowned spiritual leaders, mystics who existed when thing went well and now become dormant when there is a crisis. The greatest commandment of Jesus which may sound frivolous to many is, Love your God with all your heart and Love others as you love yourself. Can you learn to make a commitment to love the true God and align your lifestyle with honesty and genuineness, at the same time love the deprived and people who are less fortunate?

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What is so significant about this day?

This is the day where the whole world celebrates Easter. A day where Jesus rose from the dead after three days having experienced a gruesome death. This exacts high significance because His death was recorded in the Bible thousands of years ago. Not only that, the way He will be born, exact place, the kind of life He would lead and the kind of death He will die.

If you do a little research you will see that all the happenings were the fulfillment of prophecies, recorded in the Bible, which was verified in history and by all fields of science. Why is it then, some are still skeptical about this greatest event? Simply because people are so used to knowing history of many other prominent personalities who claimed to be God, but used power to fight back, wage war, throw kingdoms, marry in most cases and lead a life like one of us or some after disappointment from sorrows went to find answers. And now to accept someone who was completely exceptional makes it difficult for us to believe.

Our human mind is so used to believing the views of the majority. It is like if you are born in a particular country where the majority are followers of one creed, you assume all have to be following the creed, therefore the belief that anyone who is different is abnormal, insane or a traitor is a false assumption.

If you read, Jesus did not marry for a simple reason. If He claimed to be God, He is therefore claiming the creation to be His children. Thus, it doesn't justify to marry His own creation, in other words His daughter. We all have our own view in this pluralistic culture but all that matters is to find God who can live in our hearts. A God who transforms us to be a better person and who has defined moral boundaries for our good and for our safety.

Today most of the world is suffering because of the moral failure, and God has to bring to a halt man's selfishness in order to help us align our relationship with God. We wrong to think that God is obliged to us. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. It is we who are obliged to accept the salvation offered to us by God and to find the Savior who assured forgiveness of sin, peace and assurance to spend our eternity with God forever.

You are saved by a right belief system not by religious structures of any religion. May this day resurrect new hope, new life and peace in the midst of all challenges.

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When the whole creation is struggling!

When challenges are turning to a crisis and things are going berserk, what is one supposed to infer from all of this? Is there a way of escape? If yes, how long one has to wait? These questions are all too familiar, especially in the spiritual, logical and philosophical realm that inundates our mind. Most often in a crisis we are sustained by “Hope” to a larger extent, but then the actual problem and the struggle is to handle time, especially when and how long before we all come back to normalcy?

In the Bible it tells that the even creation is struggling to find solutions to many challenges it is facing. “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.” (Bible). Hold on! Why is all of creation, the nature and entire universe struggling? Have you thought about it? Because of man’s disobedience and sin, there is an increase in rebellion and debauchery which has a capacity to condemn all of us to punishment and death. Even the nature, the entire creation was seriously affected by human beings. The whole creation groans with labor pain because it is struggling as to how it is supposed to behave. It is we who have tampered with the freedom of choice but the poor creation is bearing the brunt.

God gave us the right to choose despite knowing that we would probably make the wrong choice. The fact that God didn’t create a species of robots that had to obey Him blindly underscores the awesome privilege and responsibility we have for making choices.

All religion has a philosophy to offer salvation. Basically, demanding to work out our own redemption of soul through visiting to so called holy places, temples, mosques, Churches and many other shrines that have recently gained prominence. Now what? When all the so-called holy places and famous shrines are shut down and the mediators (priest) or whoever you name, the godmen of any religion have gone to hibernation mode in order to protect themselves from this deadly virus, how does then one reach God and find help? It's a point to ponder!

In the Bible it says we cannot work out our own salvation, nor does our good works will lead towards the same. Therefore, God in the form of man had to come to this earth and die for our sins in the cross and resurrected which is historically recorded and proved by all science. Going to Church or any holy place is not going to deliver our soul and give redemption. It is when we believe and accept the salvation offered to us will make all the difference. 

The Bible is all about prophecies, which have been fulfilled and more importantly all that is supposed to take place as part of the end days and it also records that Jesus is going to come back again for all those who are redeemed by faith. The concept of Heaven and Hell, which is very conspicuous in the book tells us that we will spend our eternity with God. In all over the world People are directing their attention towards God and trying to find what is important for their soul.

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