Before Covid

My wife and I were talking about some landscaping in our backyard. Some garden paths were done not that long ago I thought. My wife said “no that was actually before Covid”. This expression ‘before Covid’ struck a strong chord with me. It sounded like the title of a science fiction film or book. Remember “The Day of the Triffids”. That was a long time ago! How about the relatively current film “Pacific Rim?” For us in Victoria, Australia, ‘before Covid’ was prior to March 2020. In some ways that feels like such a long time ago, although it was only just over a year ago. But so much has changed in such a short time. Things I took for granted all my life e.g. international travel, I now can’t take for granted anymore.

In so many ways, not just international travel, the world was a very different place prior to Covid. There’s no doubt that it will be recorded in history as a defining event. That presumes of course that it ends so it can be recorded in the past tense. This is less than a certainty at present.

Talking of defining historical events reminds me of one I believe is to come. One that has helped me get through Covid and many other low points in my life. Like Covid the world will be a totally different place after Jesus returns. But in this case it’ll be a vastly better place. Four verses from the Old Testament in the bible epitomise this for me. 

“In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.” (Micah 4:1-4, NIV)

What an incredibly different world these verses describe. I hope it’s soon for all our sakes.