Hide the Gummy Bears (Not the Gospel)

It's a strange time. Shelter-at-home, social distancing, self-quarantine ... these words and phrases seem so alien and yet they're now part of the national lexicon. Communities have become virtual. Friendships have become endangered as we retreat into our bubbles of isolation. It's as if society as we know it has gone into hiding, preparing for the worst and yet hoping for the best.

Like many families, this pandemic has prompted mine to take a long, hard look at just how prepared we are for an extended stay at home. My husband has often boasted that he could help us ride out any storm - or apocalypse - with his prepper skills. I've told him that now is his time to shine. He was born for such a time as this!

And he has embraced the challenge with gusto, with his first project being the creation of a prepper pantry in our basement. (His second, in progress now, is clearing brush from behind our house to create raised beds for planting.) By true prepper standards, I'm sure it's small potatoes; but for us, it's a small step towards more self-sufficiency in uncertain times.

As I was stocking and organizing the pantry a week or so ago, I noticed he had bought a big bag of gummy bears. I remember him mentioning them to me when he brought the groceries home, but I assumed he'd save them for when we were all in need of a sugary treat. But no! There was the bag, hiding in the pantry, already opened! He had obviously been indulging his sweet tooth, and so I reasoned that I should go ahead and indulge mine while putting cans and cartons away for future use. I chuckled to myself as I munched on the gummies, thinking he should have hid them better if he wanted them to last longer!

Later that night, and in the days since, I've thought about our human tendency to stow away that which we treasure most. Money under mattresses. Treats in basement closets. Families in their homes, out of harm's way. But as Christians, we need to re-frame our thinking during this time of isolation. As Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Our greatest treasure is our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a relationship that should not be hid under a bushel, but proclaimed to all no matter how socially distanced we become.

We should not hide it in our hearts (or pantries), but proclaim it for all to hear! The gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ, who came to give us hope in this life and eternal security in the next. I often use this acrostic to explain the gospel:

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)
Our sins separate us from God. (Genesis 3)
Sins cannot be removed by good deeds. (Genesis 4-Malachi 4)
Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew-Luke)
Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life. (John)
Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever. (Acts-Revelation)

In such times as these, as we isolate ourselves, it's easy to feel hopeless. What will tomorrow bring? When will this end? When will life get back to "normal?" Salvation through Jesus Christ gives us a hope and a future that are beyond anything our temporal circumstances could give us. Truly, we are not alone. God loves us and wants us to have a relationship with Him. He offers the free gift of hope and heaven - all we have to do is accept!

Accepting is as simple as praying what many refer to as "the sinner's prayer" or the "prayer of salvation." It's a brief prayer that should be from the heart, one of confession in which you admit that you're a sinner, that you need God's forgiveness, that you believe Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead, that you turn from your sins and invite Jesus into your life, and that you want to trust and follow Him as your Lord and Savior.

If you want eternal hope and security, I encourage you to pray that prayer today. If you're already a believer in Christ, I encourage you to share this good news with others - even if you're sheltering at home. We can hide our gummy bears, but not the gospel!