Shelter in Christ
as You Shelter in Place:

An Easter Week Meditation

A more in-depth, 12-page discussion of this blog post can be read here.

The worldwide 2020 commemoration of the age-old Jewish Passover feast begins Wednesday, April 8—smack dab in the middle of Easter week. Could this be providential for where our nation finds itself right now?

You know the story. The ancient Israelites had no other sanctuary from impending judgment on the nation of Egypt apart from the blood of a lamb painted outside their dwellings. That night, the sentence of death on all firstborn sons in the land “passed over” the heirs of Abraham. You can read about it in Exodus 12.

Like it happened in ancient Egypt, even so at this moment in the American story, a genuine plague has come upon the land.

However, this 21st-century version of the “angel of death” is not visiting us for a single night—a “one and done” execution of the firstborn of every family. Rather, this pestilence is projected to last for months, reaching into tens of millions of American homes and lives, leading to a possible 160,000 to 200,000 deaths.

So how should Christians respond
to this unnerving reality?

I believe the Passover drama in Exodus 12 provides the answer. Bottom line, it reminds Christians: Be sure you’re “sheltering in Christ” as you “shelter in place.”

That’s because our Passover is not an annual event on the calendar. For us, our Passover is a PERSON, the Lord Jesus Christ. He set our Passover celebration in full swing, nonstop, two millennia ago—from the moment he died, rose again, and ascended on high. Paul put it succinctly in 1 Corinthians 5: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the Festival.”

Faced with a national coronavirus curse sweeping our land, Jesus followers should embrace OUR Passover with all of our hearts as we flee to him and shelter in him. Even long after America has overcome this unprecedented medical and economic emergency, after everything gets back to “normal,” believers must never cease celebrating our Passover Festival, as we hide in Christ as a constant lifestyle.

Three ways “sheltering in Christ”
covers us in this day of disaster

1. Like the Passover offering, our covering also consists of blood—Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. By faith, in our mind’s eye, we must allow that sacred, scarlet stream to wash all over us, knowing that Christ has irreversibly absorbed the condemnation from and the ravaging plagues of all our sin.
   
   As foreshadowed in Exodus 12, the final solution for healing the scourge upon our land—and upon all of us as a race of sinners—necessitates the same, ultimate strategy: GOD’S PLAN REQUIRES A LAMB. We need “The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1)—“The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8), whose blood “cleanses us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1).
2. At the same time, the Son of God also wants to “cover us” with the blessings that flow out of his empty tomb.
   
   
   Having confronted and defeated death, Jesus welcomes us now to take refuge in this permanent crushing of our final enemy. His promise that “because I live you shall live also” is more precious than ever at such an overwhelming hour. Flee into the “new creation” that began to unfold for us from the morning of his resurrection and which will one day liberate the entire cosmos. For all who make Christ their refuge, Scripture says:

   the new creation has come already: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5). “We have been born again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1).

   By faith, let us “take shelter” in Jesus, the Supreme Conqueror of death, disease, and despair.

3. Finally, King Jesus wants us to “shelter in place” under the security of his throne, to which he ascended to be our Lord and Messiah.
   
   
   Seated on high, right now, he encompasses those who belong to him with all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28)—authority to drive off all evil. Even more, he protects us with the armor of God’s promises inherited by and fulfilled in his Royal Majesty.
   
   
   In this alarming hour for America and the world, the reigning Lord Jesus Christ stands ready and willing to bring all suffering people under the gracious dominion of the gospel—to unleash from heaven a holy tidal wave of salvation from coast to coast, a Spirit-spread covering of Christ’s redeeming work for all who flee to his love and lordship, his glory and grace, his supremacy and saving power, his fullness and freedom.
   
   
   As this unfolds, it will result in nothing less than what many have been praying for: a nationwide “Christ Awakening” movement.
   

Every day is Passover
for all who are sheltering in Christ!

Every step of the way, Jesus followers remain “covered”—covered with his blood, his life, his reign, his kingdom, his promises, his triumphs, and above all, his love.

Ours is a Passover scheduled to continue unceasingly—yes, forever! “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19). For every believer, an everlasting festival of Passover praise awaits us.

During April, Americans everywhere will continue to “shelter in place.” At the same time, Christians get to shelter in Christ. So, take advantage of all your extra time to feast on the abundance of free resources at ChristNow.com. They are designed specifically to help you explore and experience a whole lot more of the Savior who has become your eternal dwelling place.

Separated from each other physically yet still together in Christ, let’s break forth right now with unending Easter celebrations!

A more in-depth, 12-page discussion of this blog post can be read here.

About the Author

Over the past 40 years, David Bryant has been defined by many as a “messenger of hope” and a “Christ proclaimer” to the Church throughout the world. Formerly a minister-at-large with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, president of Concerts of Prayer International (COPI), and chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee, David now provides leadership to ChristNow.com and Proclaim Hope!, whose mission is to foster and serve Christ-awakening movements. Order his widely read books at DavidBryantBooks.com. Enjoy his regular CHRIST TODAY podcast.