"It is finished..." — John 19:30

Reading: Revelation 21:1-5

Reflection:

As an emergency medicine doctor, the entire experience of recognizing a pandemic, formulating a response, and making the diagnosis in our own community — all the while being consumed with facts, imaginings, worries, and regular daily life — has been a surreal experience.

Physicians and other personnel who will be seeing high numbers of ill patients are at significantly increased risk of becoming ill themselves, which means potentially making their loved ones sick or spending significant amounts of time separated from them. Of course I am concerned for my own health, but even more so for my family members who have health problems.

At this point, we haven't seen the volume of sick patients in central Texas that have been occurring in some areas of the U.S. and the world, but the obvious concern is that it will only be a matter of time. It is a tremendous blessing to work for an organization that does have many resources available, yet I recognize that there are many medical personnel who are struggling to find the basic protection to deliver healthcare. So many military analogies come to mind during this time, not the least of which is from Thomas Paine: "These are the times that try men's souls." A part of me asks the question, "Why us? Why now?"

It is very clear that things are not how they are supposed to be; we know this and our fallen culture knows this. We were not created to cower in fear or to shelter in place. We were created to flourish, create, and provide, which God gave as a mandate to Adam. The meaning of life has been summed up for us by the Reformers: man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 1).

When Christ was victorious on the cross and was raised from the tomb, sin and death were finished (John 19:30). Our restoration is here and is yet still coming. While we still see the effects of the fall right in front of us and in us, our redemption is here and frees us to fulfill the mandate given to Adam. The Lord himself says in Revelation 21, “Behold, I am making all things new” (v. 5).

As we spend this Eastertime celebrating the risen Lord, let us not spend too much time focused on our fears and anxieties, but instead on the glory of the resurrection. If we dwell on the empty tomb, we will find it much easier to fix our attention the tasks set before us: to flourish in our present condition, to provide for our neighbor, and to give a reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15).

Up from the grave he arose
With a mighty triumph o’er his foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And he lives forever with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

— “Up from the Grave He Arose”

Response:

1. Pray for those who are impacted by this pandemic, that they would turn to Christ.
   
   
2. Pray for those who care for the ill, that they and their families would be protected from illness.
   
   
3. Pray for those same healthcare workers, that they would recognize why they want to sustain life and health — that we are all created in the image of God.
   
   
4. Pray for the church of Jesus Christ, that it would shine like a city on a hill.
   
   
5. Pray for Christ Presbyterian Church, that we would operate as a family and a home.
   
   
6. Pray for believers, that we would find our foundation firm in Christ.
   
   
7. Pray for followers of Christ, that we would live out our role in preaching the Good News.
   
   
8. Pray for our hearts, that we would focus on the risen Christ and not our own circumstances.
   
   
9. Pray that the enemies of Christ, even a virus, would be made his footstool.

For the CPC Session,

Shawn Horrall, M.D., D.T.M.&H.