In the midst of the heartache, the anxiety, the loss, God is working—always working—his beautiful plan for his glory and the good of his people. Coronavirus has, for a moment at least, stripped away the façade of this world’s system. This virus has shaken us loose from our addiction to all things worldly and can help us remember our true identity.

Sometimes it takes a worldwide pandemic to remind us who we truly are.

Was it really just last month that we could shop without worrying about empty shelves? Was it really only a few weeks ago that our retirement seemed so secure, our jobs seemed so steady, and the world seemed so normal, so safe?

Then overnight everything changed. The rug was pulled out from beneath us. When we have nothing to lean on, nothing to catch us, and our backside lands squarely on the floor, we can see our identity more clearly. Sometimes it takes a worldwide pandemic to remind us who we truly are.

In a way, this pandemic has given us a wonderful opportunity. In the midst of the heartache, the anxiety, the loss, God is working—always working—his beautiful plan for his glory and the good of his people. Coronavirus has, for a moment at least, stripped away the façade of this world’s system. This virus has shaken us loose from our addiction to all things worldly and can help us remember our true identity.

And who are we, really? “I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger,” says the old song, “traveling through this world below.” We know this, in our heads. But when our schedule continues as planned, the stock market is strong, and things are comfortable, we allow our heart to put down roots here. We forget that this world is passing away.

We forget who we truly are—exiles. A ragged band of misfits. A pilgrim people following our Leader to a better country. This world is not our home.

Know Who You Are: Christian Nomads

This should come as no surprise to us when we consider the heroes of the faith whom we are following. We are Christian nomads, like our father Abraham before us, on a journey to receive our inheritance by faith (Heb 11:8). Abraham left the comfort and security of his home, believing that God would provide “a better country, that is, a heavenly one” (11:16). He lived out of a suitcase his whole life, as it were, “living in tents” (11:9) because he was “looking forward to the city that has foundations” (11:10). By faith, he traded a home here for a better home to come.

Abraham knew his identity here on earth. He and his family knew “that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (11:13). He firmly believed that there was a heritage promised to the Lord’s servants, a beautiful city of righteousness designed and established by God himself. (If you want to be encouraged, spend some time meditating on Isaiah 54:11-17 and the city we are looking forward to.)

It’s easy to forget this when everything seems so normal. Trials have a unique way of loosening our grip on all things worldly. And Coronavirus can, if we let it, help break our infatuation with this world.

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