It is timely. God has a good way of doing that for us, and perhaps it is intentional from our church leadership. But what I heard and took from Gary’s sermon this weekend was that there were many chaotic sagas and transitions in Joseph’s life. Of course this was something that I knew, but had never heard it scoped out in that bird’s eye view perspective. The way that Joseph had to suffer through chaos, injustice, and abuse was incredible and wild. His story of faithfulness and good character was something given by God. And we, as a part of that same family of believers, can bear the chaos in similar ways. I pray that none of us at City Pres ever have to go through anything close to what Joseph did, and it is highly improbable, but there are other scenarios, stressors, and chaotic events that we are having to suffer through. Our world is chaotic. We do have broken systems in our society and our world. We have significant issues in our lives and families and communities. If anything, the world of 2020 proves to us again and again that we are a fallen mankind in a broken world desperate for the presence of God in our midst as He was in the Garden of Eden. He walked among Adam and Eve, He conversed with them and walked with them. He taught and instructed and communed with them. This is our hope. We hear the groans of the world around us daily through media, social media, neighbors, friends, and loved ones. We ache for God’s presence and Joseph reminds us that He IS HERE. He is in us and with us and caring for us. We need this reminder daily, and sometimes moment after moment, depending on the day. God is a faithful God. God yearns to walk among us as He did in the Garden and He has ALREADY restored the brokenness through Christ. As I read a simple book to Cecily (my oldest daughter) about heaven not too long ago, she asked a question about why heaven is not now. I told her that the Bible says that He has been taken up to prepare a place for us. As she pondered this and heard how big it would be, it dawned on me the simplicity of this task that Jesus is undertaking for us - but also the love and care He is taking for us in that preparation. I’m sure that the exposition of that verse would bring clarity to its directness and context towards its meaning, however in that moment of conversation with Cici, I imagined the literalness of this truth. Imagining that Jesus had his wireless headphones in (listening to prayers from people or something) as He laid flooring in a new believer’s house in heaven. Or as He hung new drywall in my home that is being prepared for me in heaven. It may be juvenile, but it gives a good perspective in the work and the care and the patience that Christ is putting into “preparing” heaven for His Bride. As He knowingly waits and supports us, as a part of himself, in this very broken world. As He hurts when we hurt and as He rejoices with our rejoicing. Our loving Lord is not absent and He knows the full picture. And He allows us to venture through this journey of life and revelation of who He is in this world to grow and strengthen us as citizens of His beautiful creation. I told Cici that Jesus was simply taking His time to ensure that everything is perfect for when we get there. And when He is ready, He will change out of his dusty, dirty, and weathered clothes and wash His hands and come swoop us up in the sky with Himself and tell us, “You guys, it’s finally ready and it’s AWESOME! Are you ready to go see it? I can’t wait to have you see it!”

Our life in 2020 is riddled with COVID-19 and shutdowns, polarized politics and broken systems, injustices and racisms, and social media addicted materialistic cultures (just to name a few). We too have chaotic sagas and difficult transitions in our lives with toxic elements that float around us all the time. But God is here and He cares. He is in our church body and He is working in and through us for the betterment of His kingdom that He is continually building. This week, I have hope: not just in His coming, but also in the moments and the life I am privileged to live right here and now.

~Jeremy Warren