What is God Up To?

Right now it would make sense for someone to ask “What is God doing through all of this?” or maybe “Why would God allow this pandemic to happen?” Great tragedy and earth shaking events remind us all of how little we are when viewed on a cosmic scale. The Bible compares our lives to a vapor. Jesus asked the question: “Who can add 10 years to his life?” Many people like to express the sentiment that God must have some purpose or plan for them since they are still living, and that they just have to wait to find it.

I would suggest that we can know with certainty what God is doing. We can know what He is doing on several different magnifications. If we were to zoom out, we would see that, on a grand scale, God is preparing the world for the return of Jesus. He is moving events and leaders and nations to fulfill His ultimate purpose of a fully restored creation, ultimately with a new heaven and a new earth and a new ruler—King Jesus.

If we were to zoom in a little closer, we would see that God is working in nations and peoples by confronting them with their need of Him. Romans 1:19-20 says “what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” God is announcing to the entire world how frail and uncertain human life can be. He is undermining people’s reliance on governments and leaders—only Jesus is the true Savior. God clearly wants all men, women, and children to receive His salvation. II Pet 3:9 “The Lord is […] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Let’s zoom in one more time. This time let’s look at our lives individually. What is God doing in my life? You can know! Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” If you have trusted in Christ to forgive your sins, then God is perfecting and completing His saving grace in your life. We must next ask ourselves the question, am I going along with His plan? The quarantine will not last forever. Will you come out of this quarantine closer to Christ and better equipped to impact the world for Jesus? In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gave many illustrations of faithful servants who were actively preparing to meet the Lord. (see Matthew 24:46-25:30) Let us follow Paul’s advice to “redeem the time because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:16) Maybe you can memorize several verses, or perhaps read a book that will help you grow in your Christian life. Maybe you can simply read and meditate on the Bible with greater time and purpose than before. Whatever it is, you can be sure that God’s will for your life is that your salvation would be perfected and completed through His grace, and that you would be a faithful servant using this time to get ready for greater service.