This writing comes at a time when the world,
including our own Nation, is facing a global viral pandemic often resulting in
pneumonia and sometimes death, especially in elderly patients. Now, I don’t
consider myself to be an alarmist, at least I don’t think so. But this is
serious business and not to be taken lightly.
I was recently encouraged in my writing by a dear
friend and relative who found my writing to be “very good, full of information
and a nice splash of humor. Concise, informative and enjoyable.” My humble
thanks! Yet even though I don’t consider myself to be an alarmist; you will no
doubt find a sense of urgency in today’s writing, and probably not as much
humor.
Historically speaking, there have always been
epidemics (rapid, widespread of disease) dating as far back as the 15th
century and earlier. Here are just a few examples of epidemics in early history
(facts are approximations—I do not have verification—but this gives you a good
picture of seriousness).
·
The Plague of Athens, thought to be typhoid,
dates between 429-426 BC and responsible for somewhere between 75,000-100,000
deaths.
·
The mid-700s AD
smallpox epidemic was thought to be responsible for the death of nearly
1/3 of the Japanese population at that time.
·
Black Death (Y. pestis plague) occurred
1331-1353 AD and spread throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa with death
estimates reaching nearly half of the European population.
·
1485-1551 AD was the first suspected hantavirus-type
outbreak affecting England and later continental Europe with death estimates
greater than 10,000.
·
In the early 1700s, Iceland lost nearly 1/3rd
of its population to the Great Smallpox Epidemic.
·
The worldwide spread of Spanish Flu 1918-1920
(Influenza A virus, subtype H1N1) caused millions of deaths worldwide.
·
Epidemics become pandemics when they affect many
people over large regions, e.g., worldwide.
The point is millions of deaths occur with any
plague, epidemic, or pandemic; and COVID-19 will be unlikely to be any
different. I am so thankful to live in the United States of America. I am so
proud and thankful for the leadership of President Donald Trump. I urge all
Americans to heed the precautionary guidelines put into place to slow the
spread of this deadly disease.
Now that’s probably the longest introduction I have
ever written—but it is just that—an introduction!
Today I want to write about a global pandemic worse
than COVID-19 and our warnings and precautionary data comes from the Bible. The
problem is not described as a virus; rather, the term famine is used. In
the world, we face a very real, very deadly physical disease. According to God’s
Word, we also face a very real, very deadly spiritual disease spreading just as
rampantly across the globe.
Isaiah
59:14-15 (NIV) So justice is driven
back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the
streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns
evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no
justice.
Amos
8:11-12 (NIV) “The days are coming,”
declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land—not a
famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the
LORD. Men will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the LORD, but they
will not find it.”
2
Timothy 4:3-5 (NIV) For the time
will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their
own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say
what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the
truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations,
endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your
ministry.
Jude
vs. 17-19 (NIV) But, dear friends,
remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you,
“In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly
desires.” These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts
and do not have the Spirit.
So why do these things happen? Many ask; “If God is
so loving, why does he allow things like COVID-19 to happen?” On a spiritual
level, many ask; “If God knows the world is becoming so sinful, why doesn’t he
just fix things?” [He did. More on that in a moment.] But questions like these
take us back to the beginning, even before the creation of mankind.
God is not just loving, he IS love. God is who God
is. He will be what he will be. While humans require measurements of time to “get
through life,” God has no such time constraints because he has always been, is,
and always will be. Humans are bound by the necessity of time. God knows the
result before the cause. God knows the outcome before the onset. Humans glimpse
a momentary slice of time. God doesn’t hop back and forth between periods of
time. God sees and inhabits eternity—past, present, and future—simultaneously.
It is a difficult concept for the human mind to
grasp. It is significant because it clearly demonstrates a Creator God who gifted
his creation with freedom of choice, while providing the necessary solution for
our future failed choices. This is the reason God’s Son came to be our Savior.
This is the reason God’s Spirit comforts us in times of worry or need.
The harsh reality is that many thousands, perhaps
millions, may die before COVID-19 solutions are fully implemented. It is too
late to help those who have already died. But there is still time to help the
living. Preventative measures can be taken.
The even harsher reality is that many billions,
perhaps trillions, have already died before accepting the solution to our sin—Jesus
Christ our Lord and Savior. It is too late to help those who have already died.
But there is still time to help the living. Preventative measures can be taken.
Exodus
34:6 (NIV) The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to
anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and
forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.
Psalm
32:5 (NLT) Finally, I confessed all
my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will
confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
As our nation participates in slowing the mortality
rate of COVID-19, many are asked to work and/or remain at home. In our state, group
gatherings are limited to 10+ people; restaurants function at 50% capacity or function
only as drive-thru or pick-up services. Schools are closed. Church services are
cancelled. What do we do while we wait? We take time—we make time—to pray!
Psalm
31:24 (NIV) Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
Philippians
1:4 (NIV) In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…
Colossians 4:2 (NIV) Devote yourselves to prayer,
being watchful and thankful.
1
Peter 4:7 (NIV) The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded
and self-controlled so that you can pray.
1
Peter 5:7-8 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be
self-controlled and alert.
Those of us who are teachers or retired teachers
know the value of visual aids. So here is my challenge:
·
Find some paper and something with which to
write (pencil, pen, crayon, etc.) [Okay, for some of you that might be a big
challenge all by itself!]
·
Make a list…a REAL list of every relative and
friend you can think of, and don’t worry what order the names are in. Just keep
listing names as they come to your mind—the point is to get it on paper where it
is visible to you!
·
Pray for each name that (1) at some point in
time they have already accepted Christ as their Savior in the past, or that
they will soon do so (2) pray for their
health and safety
·
Pray for our Nation (1) that we might once again
be, “One Nation Under God” (2) that we might be proud to be a people of prayer
(3) that loss of life because of COVID-19 might be minimal (4) that appropriate vaccines might be
developed quickly and utilized effectively
·
Pray for our President, our Vice President, our
Congress, our 3 Branches of Government (e.g., Executive, Judicial, Legislative
branches) as well as State and Local officials [If you can name names, then
by all means, list them!] (1) pray for wisdom in leadership decisions (2)
for honesty and truthfulness
·
Pray for first responders, law enforcement
officers, health care professionals, medical testing technicians and
researchers (1) pray for their health and safety (2) pray for wisdom as they seek solutions to
COVID-19
·
Pray for all the unsung heroes—businesses
helping others, those who continue to go to work each day (without recognition
from government or news) to keep America operational (1) pray for their health
and safety (2) pray with joyful thanksgiving for the jobs they do
·
Pray for our educational system, teachers, and
students
·
Pray for your church family while we are unable
to meet
In the end, only time will reveal to us the results
of this round of pandemic. But my unfaltering personal prayer will be that whether
I survive or succumb—that God’s Spirit will comfort me and sustain me until I
am able to complete each task my Heavenly Father asks me to do—starting with prayer!
Respectfully written and submitted by:
Dotty Willmon, Resurrection Christian—looking
forward to the Blessed Hope of Christ’s return!
