They have removed the ability to do so, and that ability will not be replaced, Satan returns no ground that he has gained.
You may think of it as the account of the rich young man, (Matt. 19:16-22) he thought he wanted heaven, but what he had he was not willing to give up for it, the power over people is a taste difficult to relinquish.
My lovely wife and I no longer travel to distant places to enjoy the pleasures of lands we once enjoyed, the lockdowns, mandates and other stipulations that have been employed are not so much a deterrent as they are an objection by us on our part, we will not acquiesce to their demands. As long as those in authority have the ability and the minions to enforce their desires, these barricades will remain in place, and their anger will increase, for whether it be a little or much, it is never enough for those who now rule.
Unless one can understand this in the Spiritual context, you will continue to kick against the goads, (Acts 9:5) what is, is, and no effort of man can stop what is approaching. Here is where the verse in Philippians 4:11 must be applied to our lives, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Not an easy task for those who still live in and for the next new experience, to those who want to see what is over the next hill or around the next corner, what is must be accepted as what is by the will of God, what those in the world would call a “defeatist mentality.”
“There is nothing I can do about it, so I might as well learn to live with it,” is not the path of contentment in Christ.
Whether by encroaching age or by the design of the Lord, everything that you have will be taken away, slowly or quickly, you will lose over time the ability to function as you once did, those items in your home will begin to lose their luster, your hopes of going, seeing and doing will fade away, and what you will be left with will either be bitterness and despondency, or Jesus Christ.
If you have built you house on the sand, (Matt. 7:26) I pity you, for the strongest waves have yet to arrive, and your loss will indeed be great. If you have laid the foundation of your life upon the Rock that is Christ, you will stand, yet there will still be at times a sense of loss, for we are human.
My wife and I miss our vacation times together greatly some days, yet the Lord has been merciful to us and occasionally gives us glimpses of what awaits those who wait on Him, who trust in His direction for their lives. The rich young man could not see this, and those who are in power today do not want you to, hopelessness is the key to despondency, frustration breeds anger, and rebellion is the catalyst for even greater attempts at control of the populace. It is an easily seen trap, for those who are willing to do as the Lord desires them to do, follow Him.
The love of what once was cannot be replaced with a new desire of the world, of the flesh, but only with trust in the Lord, or discontentment will continue to grow, and discontentment is what they desire. There is no balance that can be sought for here, either Jesus Christ is enough, or He is not, there is no middle ground. “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:16)
Do not hide or attempt to bury your anger at these days, but do not direct it towards the Lord, instead use these days to fulfill what the fear of the Lord is, to hate evil. (Prov. 8:13) You cannot alter what is approaching, but you can stand against it by standing for Christ. Stay on the Rock.
