It’s been one month today. On Sunday, 22 March 2020 we went into lockdown here in Mohali. It must be somewhat like being under house arrest. The apostle Paul was placed under house arrest in Rome because he spoke about Jesus. Interestingly the Bible declares that he proclaimed the good news (gospel) freely during that time.

“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!”

This morning I listened to a podcast about two ladies who were put in jail for talking about Jesus in Iran. They say that they felt more freedom to do just that inside that horrible jail.

Maybe I should consider this time also as an opportunity to talk about the thing that makes the most sense. I believe that in Jesus there is freedom (from sin, from an empty life, from despair, from eternal death) that cannot be found anywhere else. Jesus himself declare: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.”

In times like this we wonder where everything is going to end. We see the economy fall apart. We watch the ever-increasing relentless spread of the disease that proves fatal to so many older people and those with compromised immune systems. We fear for ourselves and our loved ones. It is a wake-up call.

I am not sure if God caused this pandemic or he is just allowing it. Even though he created everything to be good, he also created the potential for evil when he gave humans free will and choice. But, I do know without a doubt that He loves every person and wants them to have a loving relationship with Him.

1 Timothy 2:4 says “This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…”

Just maybe He is allowing this pandemic so that people may start searching for Him. And I believe He is just waiting for people to allow Him to love them.

Jesus already proved His love to us by leaving his freedom of infinite power and choosing to become locked down in mortality, ultimately paying the price for our wrongdoings when He died on the cross. But, he rose again on the third day. He is alive and calling each one of us to come to Him. He will carry us through anything if we will put our trust in Him.

Here are a few pictures from my archives: