reasonable basis for hope and, therefore, to hope is to live
with an illusion.
In a committee meeting via Zoom, I commented that
perhaps when all the dust has settled with COVID-19 and
we more clearly see what God was doing in the heart of
His people, then an action we were considering to address
regarding racism may prove to be a moot point. Shortly after
I made that comment, a colleague said, “Robert, I wish I
could agree with your fanciful outlook about the church in
light of COVID-19, but I’m afraid, that after things return to
normal, racism will be alive and well.” I did not respond, but
I heard every word she said. She is right, of course.
But if God’s people are willing to recognize that God has
a plan for us, we can comprehend that the nuclear family
is merely a pattern for a higher ideal that He has shown us
through His family. If we will recognize that our human
fallenness, which is bold enough to show up even in the
church, can only be transformed by the power of belonging
to God’s family, then God’s plan can still turn things around
even in this late hour. We must commit to keeping His word
and weeding out all false teachings. Then God will gift us His
presence to dwell among us as we look to the future with our
hope in Him alone. God does indeed have a plan for us.+
Scriptures in this article are taken from the New American
Standard Bible, Copyright 1960–95 by the Lockman
Foundation, and are used by permission.
pg. 32 — lightandlifemagazine.com
Robert Marshall, D.Min., is the
lead pastor of the Los Angeles
Community Church in Los Angeles,
California. He also serves as the
director of the African Heritage
Network of the Free Methodist
Church – USA.
/lightandlifemagazine.com