Wicked Ways

How lonely sits the city that was full of people! (Lamentations 11a)

Jerusalem remembers in the days of her affliction and wandering all the precious things that were hers from days of old. (Lamentations 1:7a)

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

As the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions gradually ease, some are declaring, “it’s about time!” and rushing back to their old ways. This is understandable, but lamentable too. Our lives are richer when there is structure and order. That’s not surprising since we were created by the One who brought order to the chaos, and still dose. We need others in our lives because God made us for fellowship. Isolation gradually tears down the fabric of our lives leaving threadbare remnants of who we are as members of holy communions. So, returning to an orderly society is a natural longing. However, it seems that God has brought our world to a moment of decision about what matters most by taken these away for a season. Our relationship with God must be secured before our relationships with each other can be truly fulfilling.

The “wicked ways” we are to turn from can be described in many ways, but they all have a common core. Lives governed by the flesh are not governed by the Lord who created and can destroy the flesh. Lives that are governed by the Lord have eternal communion and purpose that does not depend upon feelings and sensuality. (Matthew 6) Therefore, let us carefully return to the people and activities that matter most so that God remains the primary conductor. Let us thoughtfully obey God’s precepts so that we can avoid suffering. Our safe-distancing and other precautions can be viewed as being a little like the careful preparations of the Israelites who saw the death of the first-born pass over them because they prepared as God instructed them to. (Exodus 12)