One day we will look back and see all 2020 in the rearview mirror
By Dean Collins
How many times have you been able to look back at the difficulties, the challenges, the hopeless nights, the times of scarcity and realized that those moments are now history? Yes, you may be facing new tests today, but those in the rearview mirror are long past. You are here now to reflect on them.
As you take a moment to look back, there are questions to ask yourself. Maybe the evaluation can help prepare for new challenges and new opportunities.
Did our obsession with reading every article and opinion about the coronavirus help us stay safe? Did it give us more peace? Did it change how many got sick?
Did all of the lies and venom of the political ads from both sides of the aisle help us develop more respect or kindness for anyone? Did the billions of dollars spent on the election improve anyone’s life or solve the deeper issues we face nationally or internationally?
Did the days and months we spent on social media platforms posting, reposting, and fighting with friends, family, and strangers make your holiday celebrations more joyful? Did all of it change anyone’s opinions? Did it strengthen your local church or accelerate the Kingdom of God?
My guess is that an honest evaluation of how we spent so much of our time in 2020 will possibly and maybe likely lead us to see a collective waste of time and money.
The prophet’s rear view
As Ezekiel writes the latter chapters of his prophecy, the fall of Jerusalem, the exile, and the destruction of the temple are also in the rearview mirror. The post-op discussions indicated that generally the people of God ignored earlier prophets’ warnings. The people and the leaders of Judah generally stuck with their worship of idols who couldn’t really help. Their determination to rely on nearby powerful nations was a bust. And they discovered that things happened just as the prophets of God had declared.
But there was good news forecast by the prophet Ezekiel. God himself would take on the role of shepherd. He will search and find his lost sheep. He will find them and gather them from countries far and wide. There will be plenty of pastures where rest and food will be provided.
Coming our way
There’s another mirror to check besides the rearview mirror. The side mirrors show us what’s coming our way. The words on the mirror say objects seen there are closer than they appear. Our tendency is to think the promises of God are way out in our future, but the reality is that many are right beside us. The predicted good shepherd from the line of David did arrive in Jerusalem centuries later. The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus is now in our rearview mirror.
The apostle Paul indicated in Ephesians 2 that something else is in our rear view. We used to be dead people walking in our sins. We used to follow the world’s patterns. We used to live according to whatever appetite our mind and body craved. But then Jesus came closer in the side mirror, and we saw the vastness of his love and experienced his grace. He raised us up from death and told us we could sit with him. We could join his Kingdom. He declared that we are his craftsmanship, his workmanship, his poetry. He planned it long ago and has delivered us.
Keep checking
Don’t forget to keep checking the side mirror. Every day the final return of Jesus is headed our way. The final restoration of all people and the restoration of the earth is approaching. The changes we want to see cannot be accomplished by the systems and politics of man. But all things are possible and available in and by the grace of God.
There might just be someone else looking in their side mirror. What they see might be you and me. Will we show them hatred and hopelessness or will they see the grace and love of God about to invade their space and bring them hope, peace, freedom, and even eternal life? As God’s workmanship, we can show them beauty if we choose to move together as the people of God.
Your time with God’s Word
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, 26-31; Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV
Photos by Tessa Simpson on Unsplash and by pisauikan on Unsplash
