What a weird time it is in our world. My heart breaks over the lives being lost to the Coronavirus and the effect it’s having and will have on us all.
Why is this happening? The surplus of daily news broadcasts, articles, and social media feeds that we lean on for answers and understanding can be overwhelming. I find it confusing and hard to discern what is fact and fiction. We are curious creatures. We like to know the plan, the facts, the answers, and how everything will play out. We’re also spiritual beings, created by the Father, living in a world that is both physical and spiritual. As spiritual beings, and as believers, we can’t help but look to God for the more meaningful ‘big picture’ answers that transcend the understanding and expertise of our collective humanity. This thirst for understanding sometimes leads some to float theories and inferences such as this is an “attack from the enemy” and other similar claims along these lines. While I don’t know why this virus has evolved, I do know that God is sovereign over it.
As painful and horrific as this virus may be, the fact that it is here, doesn’t minimize that God is in control. Surely, I feel, God must weep for all of his creation when the evil one throws destruction, calamity, brokenness, and loss into the lives of his beloved. But God allowed it to exist and therefore he must be using it and will use it for our good and his purposes. I know it’s hard to see how something like this could be good for any reason, but it’s important that we continue to remind one another that pain and suffering are always paired with growth, beauty, and revival.
It has been said that “we are at war with Coronavirus.” I don’t disagree with this statement. We should make every effort to protect the health and life of everyone. However, I don’t think Coronavirus is the enemy. In our search to make sense of everything, it is an obvious and easy target for our fears, stress and even anger. However, I think we are battling against a much whittier evil.
I believe our war is with the principalities of evil and its constant efforts to corrupt and derail our steps, making the battle personal, close to home, against our own sinful nature. A nature that easily redirects our eyes from Jesus to ourselves, our desire for worldly comforts, material wants, false idols, and anything else that may steal our gaze from our loving father…. a father who alone is worthy and deserving of all our love and adoration. A father who not only destroyed death, but the one to whom death bows.
So what do we do? We are an imperfect people, and this virus is, as are so many other things, so far beyond our understanding and ultimate control. In this grave situation, how can we honor God?
As we shelter in place and inherit more time to reflect and spend time with God, let’s pray for revival in our land, and our world. Let’s let the virus be a part of an awakening. An awakening that is loud and cannot be ignored. An awakening that deserves and even demands our attention and a faithful response.
Let’s see this as a reminder that this fallen and broken world is not our forever home.
Let’s see through the darkness of the present moment and examine our hearts and any of the ways in which we may be giving way to sin our lives.
We have a real opportunity in the midst of our loss, pain, suffering, uncertainty and possibly heartache to be reminded who God truly is. That walking with him is infinitely more important than any thing, goal, or milestones we’ve been striving towards, waiting for and feel we are missing out on right now.
In light of a world pandemic, the usual things that compete for our attention simply don’t matter as much as before. If we are honest with ourselves, it’s a shame that we often require such drastic circumstances to realign our gaze upon the kingdom. Maybe, something so loud and clear is just what it takes sometimes.
So, in union, let’s reorient and humble ourselves, with more resolve, before our creator and heavenly Father. Let’s avoid the temptation of putting all our faith in information, predictability, and/ or the need for clarity as we turn to our omnipotent and omniscient Creator. May revival and our desperate need for a savior be awakened in us all.
“So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Timothy 1: 8-10)
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” (2 Chronicles 7:13-15)
