Skip to main content

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Blog


          I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. (Luke 12:4)

          David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (I Samuel 17:26)

           Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

          “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)

          For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
…“Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”  (Esther 4:14 & 16)

         But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; (Philippians 1:23)


          We interrupt our regularly scheduled discussion with this emergency message. There’s a nasty contagious disease out there by the name of Coronavirus. Yes, I know, you have to have been in Plato’s Cave for the past several weeks to have not heard about it. The Coronavirus is the most recent in a long line of diseases and crises that were going to kill us or destroy the world. Here’s a partial list:

Year
Disease/Crisis
1996
Mad Cow Disease
1999-2000
Y2K
2001
Anthrax
2002
 West Nile Virus
2003
SARS
2004
Bird Flu
2005
E. Coli
2009
Swine Flu
2010
BP Oil
21013-2019
Electromagnetic Pulse Attack
2014
Ebola
2015
Disney Measles
2016
Zika
2017-2020
Global Warming
2020
Coronavirus

          In addition to those, there have been scares dealing with gravity wells created by the alignment of the planets, about the Russians attacking us with nuclear bombs, about nuclear power plants exploding or leaking, about fracking, killer bees, fire ants, and even alien invasions.
         So let me begin with the obvious. Do not be stupid. If you or a family member is in weak health, has lung or immune system issues, take precautions. On the other hand, how many of the items listed above turned out to be far less a danger than we were told it would be? Don’t be stupid – take precautions. Don’t be stupid – don’t panic.
          But to the heart of the matter for us as Christians. What should our attitude be about this and other crises? From today’s passages, one of the first answers to this is to remember that God is in control and that He is God. Yes, it’s possible that you’ll die from the Coronavirus. It’s also possible that you’ll be struck by lightning, or by a drunk driver. You might die of a heart attack, a stroke, a complication of diabetes, Alzheimer’s, or a gunshot. The reality for most of us, most likely is that we’re going to die someday.  I’m not suggesting we should try to hurry the process, but let’s be real. Either you and I will die, or the Lord will return, period. 
          During the first centuries of the Church, when plagues broke out, the Christians were often blamed for them. In spite of the fact that Christians also died from these plagues, they were known to go into plague-ridden areas to help those who suffered.[1] In this, they were like David. When the other Israelites were shaking in their sandals about Goliath, David went out to face him in battle. The Coronavirus or any of these other crises may seem to be Goliaths. Should we not be Davids? Should we not be Esthers, with the attitude that we will do what we can to save our people, and if we perish, we perish?
         Again, I’m not saying to be foolish. Read the books of Daniel and Revelation. God has told us how things are going to end. Decide whether you believe He’s really in control, or not. Is the Coronavirus a greater god than God? If you don’t believe it is, then live that way!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more