We are coming up on the two-year anniversary of the biggest pandemic in over 100 years. No one predicted the impact that this would have on the world. Never in my life would I have thought it possible that the entire planet would be in lockdown.

We have seen the effects of the pandemic on how we work, how we educate our children, and in the restrictions on how we move about and interact with each other. We have seen the strident polarization of society, even within the Church community.

How does a believer reconcile all of the uncertainties that have resulted from this pandemic? Families have lost loved ones. Relationships have changed because you belong to “that group” of “you don’t agree with me” on this issue or another.

It is easy to become isolated and turn within yourself and despair. I believe it is important to remember that our identity is Christ, and true hope is found in the One who is faithful and promises to never leave or forsake us (Heb 13:5).

We are to look beyond the things that are transient to those things that are eternal. In life, believers do not pursue the foolishness of looking for satisfaction in temporal fleeting things, but find their hope in Christ.

To remember Christ is not to think of Him once in a while, but rather to believe in Him. It is trusting in His life of perfect obedience lived in our place; His perfect sacrifice suffered on our behalf; His resurrection, which conquered sin and death; and His ascension, after which He was placed at the right hand of the Father.

This frees us from the fear of judgment for our sin and gives us hope. A hope that isn’t based on temporal things but upon a sure and steady foundation in Christ (Heb 6:19).

Scripture tells us in 2 Cor. 4: 16-18, “so we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

We need to keep our focus on Christ (Heb 12:2) and not downcast on our circumstances. Christ has promised in Romans 8:37-39, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height no depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This is what it means to remember the gospel, to preach the gospel to ourselves. Meditate (recall) and dwell on what Christ has already done for those who trust in Him. He has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3). Rest in Christ and pray that He will give you peace and hope. Look upon Christ, the finisher and perfecter of our faith!