If you’ve ever had a child—or several—in a car with you for an extended road trip, it’s almost a certainty you’ve heard these four words more than once during the drive: “Are we there yet?”
It should be no surprise that millions of people across the globe are asking the same thing. When will our societies again be open for business? When can we return to work, or church, or school? When can I get a haircut? (Rest assured, this is a nearly critical concern for some.)
If you’re not fed up yet—to the point where you open a window, lean outside, and shout in rage or desperation—you soon might be.
On April 24, marketing firm Kelton Global reported, “More than a quarter of those affected by stay-at-home orders report already reaching their breaking point, while nearly three quarters expect to reach theirs 5 weeks from now if the orders remain in effect.”
Lockdown’s “Serious Implications”
Dr. Martin Eichholz, chief insights officer at the company, said, “Our findings highlight the increasingly serious implications of stay-at-home orders, and puts some urgency on the actions of politicians and organizations who try to manage the COVID-19 fallout.”
According to the firm, “The data also show that the emotional toll is heavier for some,” affecting more women than men, more youths than those middle-aged, and, perhaps most obviously, more of those in dire financial straits.
What’s next? The Kelton Global announcement predicts, “Taken together, the data suggest that the events we've seen in recent days are just the beginning, and further escalations with larger numbers of protesters and government order violations are to be expected.”
Within the past week, protesters—some openly carrying guns allowed under state law and signs emblazoned with swastikas or nooses—gathered at the state capitol building in Lansing, Michigan, to denounce various restrictions imposed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
In Virginia, Jenny Karnes drove a total of six hours to and from the state’s capital of Richmond to protest the lockdown. She noted people “can go to Walmart, Target, gas stations, and it’s like nothing is happening with these big chain stores, but yet the hairdresser and small business owner have to shut down. It’s not fair for the others who don’t have a choice.”
She, like many others, believes that the government’s attempt to starve the virus has only created another equally serious evil: death by poverty. “The economic violence that we are committing to our society does not have as quick an impact as the virus, but its harmful effects will be longer lasting and more profound,” wrote Harry J. Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest.
Are We Choosing Life?
The reason behind these protests is clear: Protestors do not believe that their government has their best interests in mind. Distrust of leaders and their emergency laws are quickly growing.
But did you know that there is a more supreme law of the land that we all can trust? It is a law not only for citizens of the United States, not only for people of all nations, but for all Creation. It is a law that never fails and one that can never be changed; to follow it is to embrace eternal life and a better quality of life.
It is God’s law.
As Jesus declared, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
That is God’s overarching purpose: for us to live. In Deuteronomy 28, we read, “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl” (vv. 1–5).
God promises that if we follow His law, we will be blessed no matter where we are—even if it’s in isolation. His blessings bring ample provisions and sustenance. His blessings also bring immaterial value. Numbers 6:24–26 promises that when the Lord blesses you, He will “give you peace.” What a priceless gift during this time of crisis—a mind at rest, a mind confident in surviving by the Lord.
And in a time when many perceive their liberties to be slowly ebbing away, God provides us with the beautiful gift of free will. “Therefore choose life,” He says, “that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days” (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20). You have a choice—to follow God’s law or not.
Whether your local lockdown lasts for another week or another four weeks, when you choose God, you will never be in want. Do you want to share this blessing with others? Our new article details “4 Easy Ways to Share Your Faith During the Coronavirus Lockdown,” and it’s a great read that will inspire you to use this time for God’s kingdom!