19/03/2020
WHAT CORONA VIRUS HAS TAUGHT THE WORLD: A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
Corona virus is a deadly disease by all standards. The church and indeed the whole world have to put their heads together to find a solution. Ladies and gentlemen, God should not be ignored in these humbling times, he has allowed this to happen for a reason.
I imagine an individual somewhere asking like we sometimes all do, "If God is good, why has he allowed this to happen?" We often have an idea of how God should do and be but never learn his true nature from the realities of our temporal lives on earth. We can learn something biblically true from the current distress of nations.
Take note, I have suggested in the word ALLOWED that GOD IS IN CONTROL AMIDST ALL THIS. Paul describes Him as 'he who is blessed and only sovereign, the king of kings and Lord of Lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see." (1 Tim. 6:15) God is in full control.
Many would assume that if God is good, loving, all knowing, and almighty then it should be expected of Him to have prevented this deadly disease. However, He is also purposeful, allowing only that which brings Him glory in the end. I believe that in many ways the Corona virus has brought us to our knees before God more than we care to admit. Here are four ways I could think of:
1. THE BELIEVERS HAVE UNDERSTOOD CHURCH BEYOND DENOMINATIONAL PARAMETERS.
In some countries, church gatherings have been banned completely and now believers appreciate the Church as a spiritual body united in fellowship with Christ Jesus as its Lord. Church is rarely understood this way today but it is a community of all believers of all time in Christ (Col. 1:15-21). This understanding is a good step towards Christian unity. It must be carried even after Corona is dealt with.
2. THE BIBLE'S AUTHORITY HAS BEEN PROVEN
Among the many characteristics of scripture is that it is authoritative, having been inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). This is proven in two major ways; one is that Christ in his Incarnate State submitted to scriptural authority such that he was described as sinless (Heb. 4:14-16). The second is that its predictions about the future are true and none segregating (in that even none believers are affected by them). The distress of nations and strange pestilences we see today were predicted of the injury times (Luke 12:1-12; 21:10-11,25). Whether one is a Christian or not, this reality proves the Authority of Scripture; none can thwart its predictions. That powerful!
3. THE NEED FOR A SAVIOUR HAS BEEN AMPLIFIED
Today many have come to understand how quick the whole world could be ended by a flu. Human life is limited and vague without God. This in itself has brought questions about the vanity of living only for today. Life is short and death is sure ( Heb. 9:27). What happens after a person dies? The only security for this life and the next is Christ (1 Thes. 4:13--5:10). Are we ready to meet death? Are you ready to meet another reality beyond this realm? Are we ready to meet a just and righteous Judge? Only the saviour Jesus Christ gives us security for the next life (1 Tim. 2:5).
4. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE HAS BEEN LIVED IN PRACTICAL WAYS
I saw a video of medical practitioners praying and acknowledging God as the only true protection for their lives from the Corona virus. They realised it could be the end of their lives. Ladies and gentlemen, this was in a video in the United States of America, which has one of the best health care systems in the world. Medical experts, who most often discredit faith in preference for more scientific solutions, called on God in a country where faith is hardly encouraged in institutions. It can only take God who brings such a wilful surrender and trust.
My belief in this is that through this pandemic, God has worked all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose ( Rom. 8:28). Someone has been saved somewhere (I believe) and the Corona virus pandemic has helped them to see the vanity of this life and the truth of God's gospel being preached to them.
********************************************
Do you see the that this trouble has taught the world something beneficial? Do you see God's greatness beyond Corona virus? If you do, then the reason for this post has been accomplished.
We have seen the vanity of human life, the frailty of human intelligences, weakness of human economics and many other things. But amidst all this, we see the greatness and glory of God. I praise Him 👏👏👏
With the above lessons, I wouldn't be in a hurry to describe the situation as helpless. God is in control and working in His purpose. In all this, let's give Him glory. Why worry? God is in control. Ours is to pray, preach, praise and worship Him who is the blessed and only sovereign. In His own way and time, He will fix it.
My thoughts,
Soko Martin, Jr
The Doctrinaire
