By Pastor Hernan Hullana

 

There’s been a meme going around about great achievements done during isolation. In this meme (pictured) the simple proposal is put forward: “Consider what kingdom work you could do while staying home.”

meme (Facebook)

This, within another sphere of time would’ve just been a quaint challenge, but in our context, we are all asking ourselves the question. As a believer, our lot is to interact with those that know not Christ to share His love and saving message with them. In isolation, we ask ourselves what difference can we make? The fact that we remain disciplined in staying home unless absolutely necessary is actually making a difference. It slows the virus down. The discipline of staying home means we are making a difference. It is a discipline though.

Granted that we can still share Christ through digital means in our day and age, it has been a blessing to observe such a growing boldness to share hope in a fearful world. To illicit hope we can still write a post, a blog like this one, and share the Scripture. The result hopefully, as we share our faith during this isolation, is conviction in the heart of the lost person who happened to be scrolling down a screen as they are obligated to also stay home. 

The thought of isolation reminded me of our Saviour’s sacrifice. Easter is just around the corner and my intent is to get you to reflect on Easter during this isolation. Consider the following verses:

Exodus 29:14 “But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.”

Hebrews 13:11 “For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.”

These verses speak of our Saviour in type. Jesus willingly went into isolation, separated outside the city limits on Golgotha, buried in a borrowed tomb and rose triumphant, all because He had the discipline to be ‘without the camp.’

He did this because it needed to be done. This was not for His betterment; it was due to love that He gave up His comforts and His rights and He suffered willingly without the camp. His willingness to be isolated for the express purpose of sacrificing Himself for the payment of sin allowed a greater scourge to be defeated: sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:55-58).

The Easter Story is one of isolation. He was the one outside the camp, left alone to bear the cure for a dying humanity.

Hebrews 13:13 “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.”

So, we who are saved by His sacrifice, at times must suffer the same reproach. In our context, this time of isolation has been ushered in during a time of peace. Yet, there may come a time when we will do so as a precaution for our lives during greater difficulty (2 Thessalonians 2:3). The good news though is our Saviour knows and is able to comfort.

Easter tells us that isolation can bring a myriad of blessings. Let us allow this truth of Easter to arrest us again and bring us hope even in our isolation. I’m thankful that our Saviour willingly went “without the camp” and in His isolation made it count for kingdom work.