Life on the Pasture

What ‘s the strangest thing you’ve seen during the COVID-19 pandemic? Have you encountered anyone wearing what appears to be an astronaut suit trying to fend off germs? Have you encountered people lowering their masks so they can light up a cigarette? Have you been walking down the street and a person half a block away who sees you coming quickly moves to the other side of the street and then gives you a dirty stare for invading their personal space? What about a dog or cat with a mask on lest they catch or spread COVID-19? (Ok, that last one may be a bit far-fetched, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it has happened.) I have to admit, even for someone like me with poor eyesight, people watching can be great fun.

The Holy Scriptures do not describe those who have gone before us and are now in heaven looking down upon us, yet we often talk in those terms. I’ve often quipped if my Mom and Dad were watching me, heaven would no longer be a perfect place for them. Instead, they’d see my foolish actions and say, “What in the world are you doing?”

What in the world we are doing is sinning. That doesn’t mean there aren’t good things that happen in the world. Followers and non-followers of Jesus alike contribute to the well-being of creation. But followers and non-followers alike also contribute to a broken world that often seems to value greed and self-centeredness as opposed to loving one’s neighbor as oneself.

There is One in heaven who does people watch. Imagine from His perspective what we look like. Yet the amazing message of the Scriptures is that He chooses to look upon us in love and compassion. More than that, He considers us a treasure. For instance, in Matthew 13 we read Jesus’ story about a man who found a treasure buried in a field and then sold all he had to buy the field so the treasure would be his. Isn’t that exactly what our Lord Jesus did for us in giving His all to purchase us that we might be His own? 

And so the people looked upon in love by Almighty God are able through Christ Jesus to look upon Him in wonder snd peace. Instead of turning away from us, we hear His wondrous blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24–26, NIV)

– Pastor Schmidt