In the past year, we saw daily reports of the number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in the news.  It was discouraging to see all this bad news.  However, in the last two months, I noticed a message from the federal government, which said: If everyone abides by the health restriction orders by wearing masks, maintaining social distance, washing hands frequently, etc., soon we will return to normal life as before, such as attending weddings, meeting with friends, dinner gatherings, traveling and so on.  All these joyful images immediately appeared in front of the audience.  This message keeps appearing on TV.  What is the purpose?  I believe the message is trying to tell people that the pandemic will end one day.  If we continue to endure, it is a promise that we will return to the normal life of the past.  This is a hopeful message to encourage the public to continue to abide by the restriction orders, and wait for a bright future.  

     This is a very important message.  Because of hope, we continue to be patient and obey the rules.  Even though all these rules are not easy to follow, we understand that they are meant to bring us a better future.  Hope will bring motivation and perseverance.  Likewise, the life of a Christian is full of hope because our hope comes from the only true Almighty God in the world.  Because of this hope, Christians are not afraid of difficulties, pain, and death.  The Lord Jesus has overcome all these, even death!  For Christians, death is just the beginning of an eternal new life, the beginning of a more beautiful life.  

      A pandemic will always pass, so will the difficulties.  Christians should hold on to faith and patience with hope during this pandemic.  Let us lean on the power of the Holy Spirit to live a still and beautiful testimony every day.  May the name of God be glorified through us during this time! 

      過去一年，相信大家每天在新聞中，都是看到報導新冠狀肺炎確診與及死亡的人數。每天都是壞的消息，實在叫人有些灰心。但是，在最近這兩個多月裡面，我留意到聯邦政府發出一個訊息，內容就是說:如果大家都遵守政府在疫情中的禁令，帶上口罩，保持社交距離，經常洗手等等，不久大家便會回復以前的生活常態，如充滿賓客的婚禮，一班朋友歡聚，聚餐，出外旅遊等等。這一切歡樂的畫面，都立時出現在觀眾的眼前。這個訊息在這個時候不停地在電視中出現，究竟是有甚麼目的呢﹖相信當我們細心思想一下，便會明白訊息要表達的，就是疫情始終會過去，我們現在能夠忍耐持守禁令，結果就是有盼望回復以往的生活常態。這是一個充滿盼望的訊息，要鼓勵大眾繼續遵守禁令，等待迎接美好的將來。

      這是一個十分重要的訊息，因為有盼望，我們才會繼續忍耐，繼續遵守規則。而且更會了解到，這一切的規則，縱然是不易守的，但卻是要帶來給大家美好的將來。盼望是會帶來動力，也要帶來毅力。同樣，基督徒的生活，是充滿盼望的。因為我們盼望的源頭，是世上獨一大能的真神。就是這個盼望，令至基督徒不怕困難，不怕痛苦，而且不怕死亡。因為主耶穌已經勝過這一切，甚至已勝過了死亡。死亡對基督徒來說，就只是永恆新生命的開始，是更美生命的開始。

      疫情總會過去，困難也總會過去。基督徒要在疫情中，充滿盼望地持守著信心和忍耐的心。讓我們靠著聖靈的力量，天天活出美麗及平安的見證。讓神的名在這段時間，可以藉著我們得到榮耀。

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