IS GOD INTERESTED IN THE CORONAVIRUS?
The question on many lips in this COVID-19 scenario has
been whether God is concerned at all about the coronavirus. Many are thinking
whether the God that is known to be doing good things can allow an epidemic
that is as deadly as the coronavirus to be ravaging the world.
The Psalmist, King David, boasted in Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” He further reiterates in Psalm 145:9
that He is not only good but that He is good to all, “The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His
works.” Perhaps some Christians and non-Christians are wondering whether these
Scriptures still apply if they are viewed against the background of the pandemic.
John Lennox, Oxford mathematics emeritus professor, asks
the question with a book he has authored, namely, Where is God in a Coronavirus World? He
writes to banish fear, provide comfort, support, and hope. He explains that as Christians, we should view disasters such as
COVID-19 in the light of an eternity in Jesus' presence, while at the same time
demonstrating His love to our friends, relations, colleagues, and neighbours by
protecting them from the virus through social distancing, and offering any help
we can.
As a matter of fact, a world with coronavirus is a world
in pains. It’s a world that needs care, attention, and massive help from God,
governments, and all of us. In the midst of COVID-19, God hasn’t and can’t look
the other way. Jesus Christ clearly states in Matthew 7:11-12 that, “If you
then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more
will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Why then COVID-19 in the
world?
Is Coronavirus
a Biblical Plague?
Some Bible scholars and people argue that COVID-19 is a
biblical plague of the end times; some argue that it isn’t. For instance, Ed Jarrett says that COVID-19 isn’t a biblical plague of the end times because the virus
is not discriminating; it doesn’t respect nationality, tribe, religion, skin
colour, and all that. He claims that it is a natural event instead of a
supernatural action of God.
COVID-19
is a Time of Great Awakening
On the other
hand, Elizabeth Dias, who covers faith and politics for New York Times, writes that a McLauglin & Associates poll commissioned
by the Joshua Fund, an evangelical group run by Joel C. Rosenberg, reveals that
“About 44 percent of likely voters in the United States see the coronavirus
pandemic and economic meltdown as either a wake-up call to faith, a sign of
God’s coming judgment or both.”
Also, John Piper has compiled an audio-book, Coronavirus and Christ. He
expounds some of the things God is doing through the coronavirus to include:
awakening us for the Second Coming; and realigning us with the infinite worth
of Christ. Therefore, he invites readers to put
their trust in Jesus Christ, in whom our souls can be sustained by the
sovereign God who ordains, governs, and reigns over all things to accomplish His
wise and good purposes.
Pew has also confirmed that, through the coronavirus,
there is an awakening among Christians. Recently, a Pew Research revealed that, “One in four Americans say the coronavirus has deepened their
religious faith...including a majority of black Protestants. Just 2 percent
said the virus has left their faith weakened.”
I see the degree of mental and spiritual awakening
growing more and more. In April 8, 2020 post, Greg Laurie, an American author
and pastor, wrote that he came across a study published in an academic journal that examined the role of religion and faith
in the COVID-19 pandemic. It was found out that Google-searches about prayer
skyrocketed when the coronavirus went global, and that the search intensity
doubled for every 80,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases.
He further stated that before COVID-19, the online
version of their church service used to have about 8,000 people viewing each
week. But with the advent of the virus and introduction of lockdown, the number
started increasing every week respectively to 250,000; 350,000; 634,000; and
1.3 million viewers, and so on.
COVID-19
Isn’t an Alarm but a Spiritual Alert
Jesus Christ
has instructed us in Matthew
24:32-34 that “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has
already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things (wars, rumours of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in
various places), know that it is near - at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation
will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”
A.W. Tozer, an
American pastor, writing about Bible prophecy says that, “The point of Bible prophecy isn't to alarm
us but to alert us to the circumstances leading up to the Lord's return.
This alertness spurs us on to be ready, and the Bible says a lot on how to be
ready for his return.”
Therefore, the coronavirus is an indication that every man always needs God. All persons
should be striving how to get closer to Him. It is a wake-up call, and
encouragement to all of us that none should use earthquakes, hurricanes, or
pandemic such as COVID-19, to reject God; He’s a good, loving and caring God. If
there was no God in the world, life would not be worth living at all. He’s why
the worst hasn’t happened.
He didn’t say we wouldn’t have any trouble at all, but
He said that in it, He’ll be with us and deliver us. “When you pass through the waters, I will be
with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk
through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you”
- Isaiah 43:2.
After all, at the end of the day, the ultimate solution
to COVID-19 is God. We have seen that in the arena of the coronavirus, even the
most advanced economies are scampering for safety because their high-level and
high-tech healthcare infrastructure is buckling under the overwhelming pressure
exerted by the virus. So, God is even the one who gives researchers the wisdom
for whatever vaccine that will be manufactured.
Why God may allow a real crisis or a fundamental
challenge to come our way is not to use it to destroy us, but it is for us to
use it to gain a better understanding and become
better version of ourselves. COVID-19 has really exposed us to the unimaginable
depths of God’s love that we’re alive and therefore, this should inspire us to
great levels of appreciation, gratitude and closeness with Him. We’ll meet
again next Monday.
GOOD
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