Let’s be honest. We peer around the corner at the start of  a new month in 2020, and wonder what does it hold? We have to admit this is a tough time in our nation. We are dealing with a pandemic, protests, riots, racial injustice, and the political rhetoric of an election year. What’s next?

I prefer the words of the Teacher in Eccl 1:9, What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. All one has to do is look at the history of our nation, the history of our world, or just Biblical history and see sin has always been present since the Fall. What we are experiencing today is just the next chapter, nothing new. So, what is our attitude?

For the Christian, we simply cannot throw our hands up in the air and say all is vanity, all is hopeless. (Eccl 1:1) The Teacher at the conclusion of the book of Ecclesiastes, finally concludes: The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Eccl 12:13)

As a Christian we face all this turmoil in the world with the hope of the Gospel. The Teacher tried to find meaning in worldly things, but came up short. His conclusion, it is only found in God. I often talk of the four relationships  that were destroyed in the Fall: with God, with one another, with ourselves, and with creation. However, in Christ those relationships are being restored. As a Christian, we must mature spiritually, that means to Worship (fear) God and keep His commandments.

Only through Christ can the relationship with God be restored. Do we love our neighbor enough, that we are willing to risk sharing the Gospel with them? We may be rejected, labeled as a fanatic, or put into a category – “one of those’. In today’s tempestuous world we may have to  lay a lot of groundwork with people before we ever get an opportunity to share the Gospel. Do people see us as caring for their needs? Emotional, physical, or spiritual?

What about restoring relationships with one another? The Bible tells us we are all made in the image of God; do we treat one another with that reality?

What about restoring the relationship with creation? In the Garden God gave mankind dominion over the earth, that is a privilege and a responsibility. He gave intellect to us to use creation to find medicines to cure disease, intellect to use the resources of this planet wisely. Do we use creation to His glory?

What about the relationship with ourselves? This is perhaps the hardest. At our core we are sinners, looking out for number one. But thru the Gospel, our worldview begins to change. The Holy Spirit begins to do heart surgery, to conform us more to the image of Christ. Are we seeking to grow in our faith?

During this new month, don’t be hopeless. The Teacher looked at all of life, and saw there was nothing new, and that finding meaning outside of God, was vanity. It is a confusing time, but we serve a God who is in control of all things. As Christians, we seek to reflect the light of Christ  to a watching world. That implies that we are growing in our faith and are involved in the world. So, this month let our focus be on Jesus and be open to what the Spirit is teaching you about restoration of relationship through the Gospel.