In It for the Long Haul

Most of us were not alive during the Great Depression. It began in 1929 and, even though things slowly got better, the economies of the United States and the rest of the world were still depressed for the better part of 10 years.

 And then World War II happened. It began in Europe in 1939. The United States entered the war in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. As much as American life at home during the war is often romanticized now, these also were hard times. Sons, husbands, and fathers went to Europe or to the Pacific with no guarantee they might come home. Supplies such as gasoline, butter, sugar and canned milk were rationed because they needed to be diverted to the war effort. The United States’ involvement in World War II lasted from 1941-1945. Another four years. Between the Great Depression and World War II, we’re talking 16 years of uncertain times.

 We’ve been living in “uncertain times” for about seven months now. I’m not making this comparison to downplay the uncertainty we all feel right now. After all, much of the uncertainty we’re experiencing comes from the fact that we don’t know if life as we knew it will return in the next seven months, the next year, or even the next ten years. The Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, estimates that there won’t be enough COVID-19 vaccine for the entire world until 2024.

 You’re probably thinking what I thought when I read that. “2024? I’m barely holding onto hope for 2021! Now, you’re telling me it’s going to be three years beyond that.”

 And that’s just the problem we think we have simple solution for. What’s the solution to political division? How can we solve issues like racism or rebelliousness? Can we find an answer that will quash unrest, quell unruliness, and quiet uncertainty?

 We can’t.

 And we don’t have to.

 God doesn’t ask us to solve the world’s problems. In fact, as long as we live in this world, we’ll live next door to its problems. We’re in it for the long haul. God says,

 “The poor you will always have with you” (Matthew 26:11).

 “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:7).

 “An evil man seeks only rebellion” (Proverbs 17:11).

 “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Romans 8:22).

 “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them” (Matthew 20:25).

 Every problem in this world is caused by sin. There’s nothing we can do to take sin out of the world. No vote, no protest, no call to action can eradicate sin. We can’t even completely rid ourselves of sin.

 God himself offers the solution to sin.

Isaiah 53:4-12 

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 Jesus’ perfect life and innocent death on the cross pays for sin. It promises healing for disease. One perfectly obedient Son died in the place of those who rebel against God even by rebelling against the authorities God has established (Romans 13:1). One perfectly loving Son gave himself up for people who do not love God or do not love the people God himself created (Genesis 1:26).

 The sin is paid for. But in this life, sin remains. We are in it for the long haul. Though we’ve been forgiven, we still sin. Though Jesus conquered sin for us, sin still rages against us. This world will always be sinful. The next is our hope for peace.

 We can’t solve sin. But we can be lights in this world, just as Jesus calls us lights (Matthew 5:14). We can’t end racism. But loved by Jesus, we can love all people. We can’t end rebellion against the authorities. But we can obey and support the authorities because we know our Savior established them. We can’t eradicate all diseases. But we can offer comfort, both physical and spiritual, to those who suffer. We can’t make heaven on earth. But we can proclaim the name of Jesus, who brings his own from earth to heaven.