Our Shelter in Place

It's Easter Sunday. This is a day we, as believers, celebrate a promise made in the garden - that one day there would be a Savior who would reconcile us to the Creator God. As I sit and reflect on the last few years of our celebrations with family, friends and at church, I begin to get a little sad and frustrated at how we are having to be "sheltered in place".

*Easter 2018

Having a big family like mine means getting together with my dad, my brothers and their families to have a meal, play games, and spend the day having a good time. Today it will not be that way for us or anyone else as we stay at home. As I sat and reflected on Resurrection Day 2020, reading over the Resurrection narrative in the Gospels, John tells us he and the other disciples had to also shelter in place for fear of their lives.

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews" John 20:19(a) NIV. They feared facing the same fate Jesus did for they no longer had their beloved Master, Teacher and Friend with them as He laid in a tomb, or so they thought. "Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" John 20:19(b) NIV. Can you imagine? These disciples are fearing for their safety and lives! So much so that they lock the door. They are hunkered down, probably with the shades drawn, not making any sound, whispering what their next move would be and Jesus steps in like, "HEY! What's up?!"

The Scripture tells us the disciples were overjoyed. They probably felt instant relief and safety with the resurrected Jesus in their midst. He wasn't a ghost (Luke 24:39) and He obviously wasn't dead. Jesus was there with them, in their shelter. Jesus probably made them feel safe, loved and cared for, they felt the peace that only He can give. Let's visit one more shelter in place story, this one takes place in the Old Testament and is traditionally celebrated the day before Good Friday. The day of Passover in Exodus 12.

In this narrative, we see God send the "angel of death" to the Egyptians first born males, both human and beast. There is specific instructions from God to His children on how to avoid certain death to touch their household (exodus 12:1-14). To make a long story short, the Israelites put the blood on their doorposts and not leave the house once this was done. (Exodus 12:21-23) They had to shelter in place until morning and their only saving grace was that blood to let death know they were not to be effected. God was their shelter in place. Terrifying isn't it? BUT GOD...is all I can think. He was the refuge for those who witnessed the first Passover. He was the one who came to the disciples when they thought no one could get in through a locked door. He is our refuge.

It's hard when our normal has been changed and we can't do what we normally would have done. But, what these 2 stories remind me of is, God is our shelter in place. Even when we have to go to the store or run the necessary errands, God is with us - Emmanuel. Our celebration today should be because of Jesus' resurrection Christians have the shelter we need. This made me go back to revisit a Scripture I know but you know how God is...sometimes He has to give us those reminders. "God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1 NIV. God knows what is happening, He isn't unaware of our concerns but I feel He is wanting to remind us, Easter isn't about the eggs, the fun or the church service...it's about the shelter we have received through Jesus. We no longer face death but life everlasting because He is our shelter in place.

Happy Resurrection Day Everyone!