“For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.” Ephesians 2:10 (cf. Jeremiah 29:11)
In this brief article, I would like to catch your attention how best we can use global lockdown or our life’s leisure time to be champion[1] in the area where God planted us. First we will start with the good news. Then continue with the bad news. Eventually we will conclude with another good news, a very positive and promising one.
Let us begin with the good news. Every circumstances in life is a platform to bring out the best in us that God has created us to be. In spite of all the pain, hardship and stark reality of a gloomy future in our personal and corporate life, we can still rejoice and give thanks for the confusing events and bad circumstances all around us (1 Thessalonians 5:18 cf. Philippians 4:4). The life of Joseph and Daniel proves true and real. The bad events and hopeless circumstances in their lives at the present was unfolding to be a platform which prepares them to be champion in their later lives. If you ask all those champions in life, one thing stands out common to them – they turn their circumstances and bad events in life as a leverage to stand out tall and successful. Lockdown and Covid-19 may seem to be the end of the road for you and me. But it is not so. If we grasp the moment and whisper by faith that this is our time to shine, God will bless this lockdown that we can be champion in the post lockdown world. Lockdown and Covid-19 can be a life transforming event for each of us!
Let us face the reality, there is also the bad news. For the mediocre person or those who have no sense of purpose in life, lockdown can be a time for self aggrandizement. We can even use spiritual events for self aggrandizement[2], forget about playing computer games, watching TV, gossiping and do anything and just something for time pass or to kill time (this is one of the greatest enemy of God, letting time just pass by for God holds us accountable for every moments of our lives). So, this is the bad news, many of us will not benefit anything out of this lockdown. Some of us will just wait for the day this Covid-19 will be solved. By that time, many people will be on the mountain top while we are still at the foothill and enjoying with our innocence or lack of accountability to God and our calling.
Let us conclude with a highly positive and encouraging tone. Lockdown and Covid-19 can help you to be champion! In all its truest sense, our leisure can be and is the one of the most promising one that can be a platform and training ground to be a blessing to be champion in the area that God has call us to serve Him and humanity. So, the good news is this, lockdown and Covid-19 (leisure time) is a launching pad for us to be champion in the area God has called us to be! Are you intentionally trying, praying and working to be champion or do not care even if you will be a mediocre person? The other good news is, God wants you to be champion (Matthew 25:23). There is also other bad news is, God your Creator will not be happy if you die being a mediocre person (Matthew 25:14-30). May God bless us to be champion through His grace and power, by using the best of our present time, no matter what the events and circumstances is. Let this word of God encourage us to strive to flourish even in such a time as this: “pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thes. 5:17, 18). During this lockdown and in any time of our leisure in life, let us remember what Rick Warren talk about SHAPE - S for spiritual gifts; H for heart; A for ability, P for personality and E for experiences. If we intentionally explore and creatively create a system and learn to discipline, there is enough grace to grow in our SHAPE in relation to our calling and responsibilities even during lockdown or leisure time. God will bless us in His divine favor to be champion in the areas he planted us to display his splendor so that we can be salt and light. This comes with a cost – the price is for not indulging in self aggrandizement and enjoy leisure time seamlessly or enjoy limitless internet data offer. May lockdown be a blessing for us - to be a launching pad to launch forward in life and in our vocation (career) to be a champion for Christ and shine like a morning star amongst the many stars!
[1] At the Transform World movement, of which I am a part of, “champion” can be roughly understood as a person who dedicated his entire life or part of his life in a qualitative and quantitative way and through the process he or she becomes a champion for Christ in the Kingdom of God in that specific area or region that he/she serves. It can even be understood for layman as the department or field in which we serve that we attain some specialization in such a way we can be a specialist or a coach or a powerful voice.
[2] By “spiritual events for self aggrandizement” what I mean is that we enjoy worship and listen to preaching without inner transformation and a call to action. We can entertain ourselves to death by listening to gospel messages too without going out – moving our hands and feet. True discipleship is a transformed life in ACTION all the time, not theories, talking and debates!
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[1] At the Transform World movement, of which I am a part of, “champion” can be roughly understood as a person who dedicated his entire life or part of his life in a qualitative and quantitative way and through the process he or she becomes a champion for Christ in the Kingdom of God in that specific area or region that he/she serves. It can even be understood for layman as the department or field in which we serve that we attain some specialization in such a way we can be a specialist or a coach or a powerful voice.
[2] By “spiritual events for self aggrandizement” what I mean is that we enjoy worship and listen to preaching without inner transformation and a call to action. We can entertain ourselves to death by listening to gospel messages too without going out – moving our hands and feet. True discipleship is a transformed life in ACTION all the time, not theories, talking and debates!
