Reflections (50 days)

50 days.  That is not a number given to the length of the coronavius.  That is not how long we should anticipate staying in.  That is not how long our food supply will last.  50 days is not a lot of things.
50 days are how long it is from Easter to Pentecost.
We are jut getting started on our 50 days.
Think back to your reading of the Gospels.  They tell the story of Jesus and his resurrection.  He came bodily out of the tomb.  He did so as a "firstfruit" of what will take place with all of us. 
Matthew, Luke and especially John, tell us what took place in the aftermath of Jesus' resurrection.  Two disciples were joined by the risen Lord on their walk to Emmaus.
The apostles were astounded by the risen Jesus coming into their isolation, behind locked doors.  That happened not once, but twice.  Jesus came.  A week later Jesus came once again.
Seven disciples met the risen Jesus on the shore and had breakfast in Galilee.
But Jesus never stayed with them in his resurrection body for very long.  He came.  He went.  He came again.  They were living from one experience to the next.
50 days.
Feel free to read ahead.  The second chapter of the book of Acts tells about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 
50 days.
Once the Spirit was poured out on all flesh, the followers of Jesus were empowered in a way like never before.  They easily witnessed their experience of the risen Lord Jesus.  They lived boldly, like never before.  They lived in the same circumstances but with the power of the Holy Spirit sustaining them in ways they could never had imagined in their wildest dreams. 
We are in our 50 days.
We have celebrated the resurrection, although we missed the essential element of "body".  Remember, we do not have a "disembodied faith".  (I could talk about that another time.) But we did celebrate an authentic Easter.
Now we come to the next day.  It seems a great deal like the last day.  But everything has changed.  Death does not rule.  Resurrection has become the new reality of the new covenant!
But what are we to think about 50 days?
Are we to walk through our times with a similar experience to the early followers of Jesus?  Will Jesus be very real to me for a moment and then distant again?  Are we to chase the next spiritual experience so we can "feel good" about Jesus?  How do we do this?
I realize that I cannot hasten the conclusion of Covid-19.  There are some things that just have to happen and it will take some unfolding to get through.  Frankly, even were God to miraculously end the virus and 10:00 a.m. today, a significant portion of the world would not believe it! (Another point for another time).
Be we can expedite 50 days. 
The Holy Spirit HAS been poured out and comes in continuous fashion.  The Holy Spirit is the ever present reality in life.  The  Holy Spirit does not come and go.  The Holy Spirit is the reality of God with us. 
You do not have to settle for a come and go faith.
As you have welcomed Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior, you may open your heart and ask the Holy Spirit to come and fill you today. 
Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will  be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)
Don't wait for 50 days to receive the Holy Spirit.  Oh, it is fine to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in 50 days.  But don't wait.  Ask today.  Receive today.  Experience the on-going presence of the living God in your life now.
Circumstances may or may not be much different.  But you will be different.  You need not be relegated to a come and go faith.  You may be filled with the Holy Spirit today.  You may anticipate being sustained by the Holy Spirit going forward.
50 days may be captured in a God instant.
Open your heart to the fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit that will change your life - disposition - attitude - faith.  Receive the Spirit like a might river of grace today.
This is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.
steve