I have been bothered by the cacophony of voices trying to convince us that this is normal. This is not normal. School isn’t normal and teachers can’t make it normal with videos and emails. Work isn’t normal and Zoom doesn’t make it normal. Church isn’t normal, and parking lot services do not make it normal. Even the grocery store isn’t normal.
But, in all honesty, I’m bothered as well by the cacophony of voices that try to convince me that what I know of as “normal” life is somehow normal. The truth is that even the everyday life that I’ve known for all of my 39 years isn’t “normal” as it was intended from the beginning.
God didn’t create us to suffer under war and famine. God didn’t create us to endure death and disease. God created us to live in a beautiful relationship with him, free from the pain and suffering. God created us to walk with him in the garden and live as his children forever.
We know that this world isn’t “normal.” It can’t be normal. Why would roses have thorns? Why must honey come from bees? Why must women suffer through birth? Why should beauty be combined with pain?
Deep down, we know this world is broken. We know because the loss of a loved one hurts so bad. We know because something within each of us cries against this plague that surrounds us. We know that this isn’t normal because we long for community, for relationships, and hugs.
The Bible gives us multiple explanations for this, but one of my favorite comes from Ecclesiastes 3:11:
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart
How do we know this isn’t normal? Because God created us with a reminder deep inside. He has put eternity into our hearts. God has given us a longing that matches with his created intention for us. God created us to enjoy and experience eternity, but sin has destroyed God’s good creation. Sin has separated us from God and from his good purposes for us, but sin cannot win.
Sin will reign for a season, but the days are coming when we will once again experience the joys of a good creation free from fear, pain, and strife. The ground will once again give forth its bounty without thorns and thistles. God will wipe away every tear. Death will be no more.
We long for that day and we know that these days are not normal. But, do you remember that the days before COVID-19 weren’t normal either. We have never known God’s normal. Death has always been an invader, but our hearts long for more, and God promises more.
Normal will not return until Christ returns. Until then, we can trust that longing within us. This isn’t right and it isn’t normal, but the King will come again. And when he does, all wrongs will be righted. Death will be no more, there will be no more tears, no more sorrow, no more social distancing. Our sin will no longer separate us from God and those we love. In that day, faith will be sight. Christ will be all in all and we will live in his paradise.
