Are we living in the end times? Is Jesus’s return coming soon? These are just a few of the questions I’ve been asked since early on in this COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, anytime there’s a major world event, I get asked these questions. It’s not unusual. We certainly are seeing some of the events discussed in Scripture about the end times, and I believe that we need to always stand ready for Jesus’s return (because no one but the Father knows when that day will be), but as I mentioned in my last blog, I think what we’re experiencing right now is more of a great awakening, and perhaps the Third Great Awakening. And that’s very exciting!
I recently came across an article from an academic journal that studied the role of religion and faith in this COVID-19 pandemic. And I thought, how ironic that this article came out, considering the efforts to make the Church (the big C Church) all over the world seem non-essential and irrelevant. The article pointed out that Google searches about prayer
skyrocketed when the Coronavirus went global. And, in fact, the search intensity doubles for every 80,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. So, it’s through the roof.
A recent Pew Research survey of American adults confirmed this trend, indicating that 55% of adults surveyed had prayed specifically that God would end the spread of the Coronavirus. In another poll, nearly half the respondents said the pandemic felt like a wake-up call from God.
We’ve noticed this trend at our church, The Summit, as people all over Colorado are searching for answers and hope. I’ve been pastoring for over 27 years and the pastor at The Summit for the past five years, and during that time, we have started to really get a foothold and traction in making the name of Jesus famous throughout Colorado. And we’ve seen more than 2,000 people so far put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!
Then the coronavirus hits, and one day we’re open and meeting, and the next day, we literally had to lock our doors. I know that’s nothing new; all churches have had to do that. But when it seemed like momentum was so huge and Jesus was being magnified, and well, it was disappointing and frustrating.
The Third Great Awakening?
But in typical God-fashion, He took what the devil meant for harm and turned it into something for our good and His Glory. You see, although the doors of the church building were closed, the door of opportunity was flung wide open. Hey gang, isn’t that just like God?! One of my very favorite verses in the Bible, Romans 8:28, says, we know (we being Christians) that, in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him and who’ve been called according to His purpose. We just need to remind ourselves that all means all, even in the bad times, and yes, even in COVID-19.
For example, even before the pandemic, we broadcasted our worship experiences online, and it was beginning to grow, and on a good weekend, there might have been 100-200 people who tuned in. The first week that we went exclusively online, that number quadrupled! By Easter, it was close to 4000, and our weekly attendance online just keeps on growing.
But here’s the most significant indication that we might be on the verge of something much bigger, like a spiritual awakening. In the past eight weeks or so, evangelical, Bible-believing churches have seen over 200,000 people put their trust in Jesus Christ. And that’s just what’s being reported. If you consider those that aren’t reported, I’m sure it’s been double that.
Hundreds of years ago, in the 1730s to be exact, there was a Great Awakening in our country, followed less than a century later by a second Great Awakening. And I was thinking about this: that name—Great Awakening—is pretty lofty. How widespread does a spiritual revival have to be to earn the moniker, The Great Awakening? Here’s another question. Is God doing it again? Let’s pray so. I know I am because that’s the only real and lasting hope for America.
Gang, we’re going to get through this crisis. In fact, things are already beginning to let up. In some places, lockdown is over. For the rest of us, we don’t know how long it’s going take, but we do know this, we’re not alone. Hope has a name, and it’s Jesus Christ, and He loves each and every one of you, and he wants a relationship with you. So here’s my advice. Hold on to hope. Hold on to Him.
Until next time, stay encouraged, read your Bible, check out a few of my videos on YouTube, and join us, either in person or online every Sunday at 9am or 11am Mountain Time.
~Pastor Rob
aka, “P-Ro”