Pestilence Confronted: "He grew strong in faith as he gave glory to God"

 Pestilence Confronted: "He grew strong in faith as he gave glory to God"

As we wait for the end of the Covid threat; as vaccinations and herd immunity begin to impact the numbers of infected and sick among us, we can finally begin to think about the next steps for our lives, our families, and businesses. It makes me want to take stock of what has occurred and what lessons I have learned. I have come to realize that although a crisis may leave scars, it always teaches me something about God and myself. 

As a Christ-follower my life belongs to God. This is the real truth about faith (trust) in Christ, his gospel, death, resurrection, and inevitable return.  This truth accompanies each of us in all life circumstances—especially pain, disease, disruption, loss, and death. These trials in life impact us deeply and potentially teach us the most; victories are appreciated but are only fleeting moments in time, often with minimal impact. So what lesson(s) has Covid brought?  

One of the key lessons for me has been the struggle with fear and faith; either God is who He says he is or not. And if He is the all-mighty God and cares about me and my life, family, work, decisions, temptations, and relationships; then my trust (faith) in God should show up in all of these critical areas of my life. Covid taught me that my faith is not automatic; fear is always trying to find a way to get at me and even debilitate me. This is quite a problem when you consider that the faith of a Christ-follower is really the essential thing. If I cannot trust God (faith that God’s power and promises are real), I simply cannot be an effective follower of Jesus or CBMC ambassador.  

St. Paul wrote this about faith and the most famous Jew of all, Abraham:

“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 

(Study Romans 4:18-22 (ESV) 

The trials of Covid taught me that there is no place for fear in the man or woman who desires their faith (trust) to be counted as God’s righteousness in them.



Blessings,

Jim Firnstahl

 Pestilence Confronted: Looking for Good Soil

This is a message from the president of the CBMC, Christian Business Men's Connection. 

    The conditions of Covid have brought much fear and uncertainty to the people around us; some suffer deep pain from the loss of a loved one, the security of work or a business. What a contrast these negative conditions are to booming economic years of 2017 to 2019. For many people the shock of the Covid shutdown has shaken confidence in government, society and the marketplace. It is causing a rethinking of what is important in life including: What is the purpose and meaning of life. Put more bluntly, Covid is causing much despair.  

    In CBMC, one of our best practices is to maintain a top ten list of people in our circle of influence that we can continuously pray for and be the salt and light of Christ in their life. During these times I have been asking God to help me discern who on my list might be more open to “seeds of the word of God” (Luke 8:4-15). Who on my list is asking life questions? 

    In his parable of the “sower” Jesus compares four conditions under which the truth of God, the word of God as seeds are most often received: a path, rocks, thorns and good (receptive) soil. Good soil is indicative of a an open heart and mind receptive to truth. When we meet such a receptive person, our work is to be prepared to give an account of our faith, our trust in God and why we regard Covid as a passing, temporary phenomenon. I often tell people that Covid is only a moment in time which will soon pass away. I tell them I have learned through my trust (faith) in God to be more concerned about my eternal destiny.  

    Ask God to show you those on your top ten list with good soil and check in with them to see how they are doing.

Blessings,

Jim Firnstahl