Freedom

Written by Ps Alby Yip

The headline “Singapore to exit circuit breaker on June 1” was splashed across all newspapers and media platforms when it was announced on May 19. Although it will be phased, the entire nation still heaved a collective sigh of relief. Almost instantly, social media platforms were flooded with people posting what they will do, some with vengeance, when free to do so.

It is understandable. Living things are created to be free. Hence, one of the greatest lessons afforded us in the period of lockdown is perhaps this: “Don’t take freedom for granted.” No one would have imagined that the COVID-19 virus would put continents, countries, businesses, and families on lockdown. This is what we want to be careful about as we exit circuit breaker.

Unbridled freedom will result in bondage. The COVID-19 virus is still very much a threat. A second wave could send the nation back into circuit breaker. All that was previously done, given and sacrificed would have been in vain. So what can we take away from COVID-19 as we slowly step out of it?

I mulled about this in our family devotions on the Lord Jesus calming the storm. The disciples saw more than the effects of the storm calming down at the Lord’s command. They saw the cause, the One who “commands even winds and water, and they obey him.” (Luke 8:22-25, emphasis added) Did you also see Him in our COVID-19 storm? I did.

In Zion Bishan alone, we see how God used the situation to build up and send out His people. More people were worshipping regularly, giving increased, prayer meeting attendance shot up, families having more time together, windows and doors of Gospel opportunities are opened. Many were drawn to dependence on God and were drawn deeper in their relationship with God.

In a sense, like the disciples, our eyes have beheld in fresh ways the sovereignty of God as we rode out the COVID-19 storm. Indeed, with Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm. But what will we do as we step out of this storm? To resume life back to pre-COVID times? Or would we contend to live with limitations on what we want, so that we may live for what He wants?

Let’s not just reclaim freedom; we can also redeem freedom. COVID-19 is too precious a lesson for us to forget not because of the freedom lost. It is a precious lesson because it showed us that we can be free even when on lockdown—that when we do with less, we gain more!