It’s Not Over

these challenges. It is our role to be standard bearers.

The standards we can share with others consist of the two great commandments. Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV). This is not new, but it seems with recent events it needs to be something we begin to take seriously. We ought to love God first and then our neighbor as we love ourselves. This is not rocket science but is basic and unfortunately not done regularly in our world. There would no need to say, ‘Black, blue or all lives matter’ if this life principle was followed. There would be no talk shows or radio programs dedicated to division and strife. There would be people coming together under the banner of love, justice, peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. This is what Jesus would want and expect from his disciples. Love is how people will recognize Jesus in us not hate. We must uphold righteousness and have compassion toward one another. We live in perilous times, but we must continue to hold on to our faith. Making sure you have your house in order – financially, spiritually, relationally, and mentally is paramount at this time. This is not a time to worry but a time to act.

We can look to the future because our hope is in God and not people. It’s not over because the earth is the Lord’s. It’s not over because we must still carry out the Great Commission. It’s not over because no matter what happens on earth we can depend on the word of God. Keep hoping, loving, preaching, and teaching. Keep protesting injustice, protecting our community, and promoting unity. Keep loving God and loving people. It’s not over until God says so.

Dr. Carla Debnam, Founder, Renaissance Christian Counseling Center