{"id":8147,"date":"2020-04-28T12:35:54","date_gmt":"2020-04-28T16:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/church\/?p=8147"},"modified":"2020-04-28T12:40:13","modified_gmt":"2020-04-28T16:40:13","slug":"no-more-separation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/church\/no-more-separation\/","title":{"rendered":"No More Separation"},"content":{"rendered":"

My father died fifteen years ago. For two years, he battled cancer that ultimately took his life.<\/p>\n

However, God was pleased to give him a new life by knowing Jesus in the process.<\/p>\n

Each time I saw him struggling with pain, I wondered whether it was best for God\u00a0to\u00a0take him home. As he slowly\u00a0deteriorated, I thought I was also getting ready for his departure. His death proved me wrong. I found comfort in the fact that he has\u00a0been united with Jesus. However, our separation has been painful.<\/p>\n

Children\u00a0also\u00a0grow, graduate, and leave home. Once again, separation is painful. While they are little, parents enjoy\u00a0seeing\u00a0them\u00a0grow in their knowledge of\u00a0Jesus, and then, increase\u00a0“in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man.\u201d As they\u00a0become teenagers, a praying season begins. This time may weary some parents.\u00a0Parents\u00a0may\u00a0be tempted to think they are ready for\u00a0their child to go to\u00a0college!\u00a0But\u00a0that\u00a0day proves them wrong. Separation is still painful.<\/p>\n

People Experience Separation<\/h2>\n

COVID-19 has brought\u00a0a whole new meaning\u00a0to the separation that people are experiencing. Two months ago, there were different ways to describe this word. Even today, its concept, scope, and relevance are a work in progress.<\/p>\n

“Separation” is not only a concept but a living experience. This virus has disrupted people’s lives and brought a new set of priorities for the health system, medical procedures, family dynamics, church ministries, industry and jobs, traveling schedule, political agendas, stock market, and even food chain supply. The Coronavirus has forced everyone to realize how hurtful separation is for our daily life.<\/p>\n

COVID has\u00a0also\u00a0brought another lesson. People could be\u00a0physically\u00a0together, though experiencing\u00a0separation. The fact is that\u00a0many were\u00a0experiencing separation before this virus.\u00a0Some husbands and wives\u00a0were\u00a0not sleeping together. Some children\u00a0were\u00a0quarantining themselves, staying in their rooms, and not eating with their parents.\u00a0In some circumstances,\u00a0COVID is fleshing out what\u00a0has been\u00a0happening in the relational realm.<\/p>\n

I imagine\u00a0everyone in this world is waiting\u00a0and longing\u00a0for a cure for this virus. God willing, there will be one. Nevertheless, would this vaccine also make husbands and wives sleep together again? Could this shot help a husband and wife communicate better? Or, can the cure make children get out of their rooms and change their bad attitude toward their parents? Could it help parents be better connected with their children?\u00a0The\u00a0answer is obvious and self-evident.<\/p>\n

In many\u00a0respects, this virus is not\u00a0creating separation. Instead, it is highlighting that the separation humankind is experiencing is more profound than the social distance.\u00a0We need to turn and ask God why people experience separation.<\/p>\n

\u202fWhat does God have to\u00a0say about the separation people\u00a0experience?<\/h2>\n

The Bible teaches that people are distanced from one another because they are distanced from God. Men are distanced from\u00a0God\u00a0because of sin.<\/p>\n

God created and put all things perfectly together under\u00a0His headship.<\/p>\n