This is not the first time the world has been hit with a pandemic (pestilence; see yesterday's post "Is the Coroniavirus in the Bible?")
It won't be the last time either. The Black Death was an epidemic in Europe between 1347 and 1400. It killed between 75 and 200 million people. In 1918 the Spanish flu killed an estimated 50 million people which was barely over 100 yrs. ago. Then in 2009 the same flu killed over 200,000 people. It has yet to be determined how many people the coroniavirus will kill in 2020.
Let me make a pretty strong statement today:
I do not believe that as Believers in the Kingdom of God we can stick our head in the sand and pretend that the coroniavirus is not here.
It cannot be ignored! We cannot be a "silent church" by just saying we are praying about it! We must talk about it and seek God for answers to provide support and comfort to those who find themselves afflicted and affected.
The point is that as long as we live IN the World there will be suffering, disease, death, and sorrow. Sin brought this polluted world in which we are living. (Genesis 1-2 Adam & Eve) Yes, I know! You don’t like that but it is true.
We must remember that we are NOT OF this world. Our true home is not in this sinful world of suffering, disease, death, and sorrow. ( I should be hearing an Amen) The Bible says in Philippians 3:20
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;"
One day we will go there to live forever. But in the meantime, we are living in a corrupt, polluted world. Jesus did NOT say that we would never have pain or sorrow, or be exposed to sin, sickness, and disease. (Read below)
James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
1 Timothy 5:23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)
Philippians 2:27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
The entire bible is full of people who were in pain, sickness, and suffering. Good people, yes even believers.
As we read through the Old & New Testaments we see that there was a whole lot of stuff happening to good people. James, one of the apostles of Jesus said it like this in his book James 1:2-3: "Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perservance."
As we read through the Old & New Testaments we see that there was a whole lot of stuff happening to good people. James, one of the apostles of Jesus said it like this in his book James 1:2-3: "Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perservance."
We will face unpleasant things in this life. I've heard the old adage that "Bad things happen to good people." This is so true in many regards. But the question is still: Why Christians Should Not Panic! Read below for the answers.
John 14:14 "If you ask me anything in my Name, I will do it."
1 Peter 2:24 ".....by His wounds You have been HEALED!
Matthew 8:17 ".....He took our illnesses and bore our diseases"
Acts 10:38 "How God anointed Jesus of Nazarus with the Holy Spirit and with Power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."
God is With Us and God is For Us!
I leave you with this final answer to the question:
The Lord Himself goes before You and will be with You;
He will NEVER leave YOU nor forsake YOU.
Do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged
Deuteronomy 31:18
Have no fear!
Lou Ellen
