Spring 2020 will be forever historic in America. It was in the spring of 2020 that most Americans came face to face with the Corona Virus, also known as COVID-19. This highly contagious viral infection has been the reason why schools, businesses, kindergartens, cinemas and even churches have been closed. Disney has closed all of its theme parks for the first time since opening in 1955.
Supermarkets can hardly store food on the shelves, especially items like hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and paper towels. In the midst of all the panic, what is the role of the church? Or the believer? I have had conversations with people who wondered how houses of worship have gone dark. Why are the doors of God’s houses closed? Why aren’t there enough live streams, prayer calls, or videos to offer hope? Very few pastors seem to reach out to parishioners during this season and those who are mature in faith seem disappointed, while babies in faith seem bewildered. Everyone is looking for answers, and leaders in the body of Christ have a godly responsibility to nurture the flock this season. True leaders take situations like a pandemic or other disaster to point people to the cross; encouraging them to embrace and trust the word of God.
When the panic of recent world events took hold, I immediately felt compelled to turn to God’s word. I made the decision to comfort myself in his promises to stand firm in the idea that no matter what materializes in our society, God will take care of his people. Isaiah 41:10 in the KJV says “Do not worry; because I am with you: do not lose heart; because I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; yes, I will hold you with the right hand of my righteousness. “As God’s people, we must be the peace that unbelievers see! TO KNOW that God is our eternal peace so that an unconverted world can ask us how we can be calm in a world gone mad. Isaiah 51: 3 says God will do it “He will comfort Zion (the church): he will comfort all her desolate places;“This means that regardless of the situations we face or the people we meet, the Lord will always bless His people.
The situation we find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 virus has forced us to face the reality of safely identifying which side we are on. It is now that we all have the decision to be a person of faith or not. Those of us who walk with Christ need to be resilient, confident, and sure of who our God is, know that He is fully capable of sustaining us, and understand that the Bible points to events like this unfolding in the last days. Mark 24: 7-8 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places. All of these are the beginning of the pains.“These are the times for which the body of Christ should have been preparing! We should be the sober voice of reason at this time to offer comfort to those who do not know Christ as Savior during these dangerous times. These are the last days … These are the dangerous times 2 Timothy 3: 1 references.
Although we cannot predict the end of the Corona virus outbreak or even others to come, we can be sure that God’s word is always true. God is speaking to the church through this modern crisis. We must realize that in the midst of the chaotic environment that a fallen world has created, it is our best moment as a body. Let’s live to draw even closer to the cross, deepen intercessory prayer, and allow God to take us to higher heights in Him. Lastly, let’s use this situation to speak to those about salvation even more in order to help the lost. to find the strength, courage, and perseverance that can only come from knowing Jesus.
