“And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines
and pestilences;
and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.”
– Luke 21:11
The Corona-COVID-Wuhan-Chinese Virus is in the news. It’s been classified a pandemic; a worldwide epidemic. It’s shutting down schools, colleges, conferences, political rallies, sporting events, and population gatherings in general. What are we to make of this?
A characteristic of the Last Days is “pestilence.” It’s an insidious way of the enemy to divide people and promote deprivation in many forms. Here are a few examples of this devilishly dividing virus and the detrimental effects it is having:
- It distances people from each other and short circuits acts of love in churches, fellowship gatherings and all gatherings of our nation. It’s just one more way to divide us.
- It tempts and creates an environment of ugliness like suspicion, accusation, prejudice. People fearful of being infected excuse themselves from helping the neediest people around them, in society, in the world.
- It’s an insidious way to keep people out of circulation. Isolation from others facilitates things like depression, discouragement, loneliness, secret sins, etc., dark things, devilish things.
- It’s being used to tank the strong economy. That leads to financial hardship.
- It’s being used to paralyze people with fear. Fear is the foe of faith.
- It’s being used to curtail and discourage social gatherings like President Trump’s massive rally crowds which removes that powerful visual display of support he has.
- It’s the cause of illness and even death in the weakest segment of society, the elderly. It’s ruthless and merciless in this regard. In this sense it is like the Amalekites – “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God.” (Deuteronomy 25:17-18).
The Corona virus needs to be dealt a death blow like the Amalekites were (Deuteronomy 25:19). Thank goodness our president acted as swiftly and decisively as he did, disregarding the politically motivated cries of his critics. We have been spared a worse fate as a result. But these other above effects are still in play.
I’m sure the Corona virus is being used in ways unknown to us that are even worse. Some “will never let a good crisis go to waste.” It’s true. The devil is pulling out all stops in a last day of pestilences (see Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11). He’s on the prowl with this pestilence (1 Peter 5:8-9). We need to resist him.
For those who know the Lord Jesus, we need not panic. Instead we should:
- Be informed. Read up on the virus and don’t allow yourself to be sucked into the vortex of panic and hysteria about this virus. There are far worse illnesses around us that we’ve learned to live with. Take precautions and practice kindness, but don’t panic. Ask the Spirit to lead you in this.
- Spend quiet time with the Lord. Turn what was meant for evil, to good. Dust your Bible off, find a quiet spot in your living space, and reacquaint yourself with the Lord. Take in the chicken soup for your soul – the nourishing, healing, health producing word of God. Maybe start with the Gospel of John. Maybe study the benefits of God’s word in Psalm 119. But get into the word of God.
- Pray. Take this time to renew or strengthen your prayer life. Seek the Lord for yourself, loved ones, church family, for your nation, president and leaders, for the world. Overcome this pestilence with prayer. It just might lead to the revival many have been praying for. God hears our prayers. He answers them too. 2 Chronicles 7:14. 1 Timothy 2:1ff. Philippians 4:6-7.
- Stay in touch. Social media is the bane of our day, but it can also be used for good. Keep in touch and encourage others during this time. Keep in touch by phone, email, text, Twitter, Face Book, etc. Use communication technology to extend your ministry capability. Pray about it. Ask the Lord who needs to hear an encouraging word. Romans 1:9-12. This just may be the start of a new Avenue of ministry for you.
- Trust God. Jesus informed His disciples of difficult times to come “that you should not be made to stumble” (John 16; see also Matthew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21. See 1 and 2 Thessalonians.) The Corona virus should not surprise us, it’s part of what Jesus said to expect. Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). What the enemy means for evil, can, in God’s power, be used for good (cf. Genesis 50:20). Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. He will lead you into all truth (John 14:26 and 16:13).
The Amalekites were the bullies of their day. Bullies only respond to a firm, forceful, decisive, united, punch in the nose. Let’s keep the above in mind and prayerfully knock this virus down and out. I’m praying for you. Pray for me. Let’s pray for each other. Let’s pray through until our Lord Jesus returns. In Jesus name. Amen!
In His service, by His grace, for His glory,
Pastor Claude