Virus Verses Virtue
Sunday’s Monday
Virus Verses Virtue
Once again in my lifetime, the world is faced with a human annihilation event. I hear talk of the last days in the bible or this is the beginning of tribulation. Now, I have to admit that this kind of talk winds my clock because I fail to see Jesus moving in the hearts of these nay-sayers. Doom and Gloom flow from their mouths because fear and doubt flood their overfilled hearts. The truly sad fact is a lot of these prophets of doom are claimed to be Christian. I can’t understand how any born-again believer can have so little faith in Jesus that they fear His return. Being reborn from who we were, to who we are created by God to be, should be more than enough to secure our hope. God reminds us in Romans 8:31-32 (ESV), 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
The recent pandemic of COVID-19 has brought out the best of some Christians and the worst from all others. We (the world) can’t seem to grasp that we are all on this big blue marble together and we truly need each other. God warns us in Proverbs 18:1 (ESV), Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. There is an estimated 7.8 billion as of March 2020 made up of different cultures, religions, languages and a plethora of other differences inhabiting the earth. We all have several major issues in common, we are all born of the flesh, live on this earth and dye from our sin. On the other hand, there are uncountable differences in the emotional and spiritual arenas. However, this doesn’t damper the mandate issued by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV), 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This is the age of evil and those who truly believe are equipped for it!
During my comings and goings, I have heard a lot of talk of the return of Jesus and it hurts my heart. It is almost as if they will not be ready to receive the Son of God, until the day He returns, of which God’s word plainly yells us in, Matthew 24:36 (ESV), “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Ergo, I will be the barer of the truth you already know and yet pretend you don’t. According to man Jesus has been returning soon since the day he ascended and some 2000+ years later, the situation hasn’t changed. It may be thousands years in the future before His return but you or I could die in the next second. There is a gospel song written by Elisha A. Hoffman and the title fits right here, Are We Ready To Go? 1st line, Are you ready to meet the Lord should He suddenly come this way? 2nd line, Could you welcome the blessed Christ and be ready to go today? Something to “seriously” think about!
There is no time for sitting or resting on our laurels! There are people out there that need us, and it can be accomplished with social distancing. Our God (at least the God I serve) is still on His throne and in control, He has given us the gift of kindness to share with others. As it is written in Ephesians 4:29 (ESV), 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. All the while remembering as unsettling as all this is with the sickness and deaths, it can have the golden reward of people returning to the basics of their faith in God. The bible (God’s inspired word) is filled with verses on faith and I will list a few to get you started. The first is from Hebrews 11:6 (ESV), And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. I hope this will stir you to examine and study Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:17, 2 Corinthians 5:7, James 1:3, 1 John 5:4, James 2:17, just to name a few. God will lead those who ask in faith through the calamities of life to the completion of His will for us. We need only to listen to His voice and act (immediately) on what He said.
My prayer for this week comes from Ephesians 1:19-23 (ESV), 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Amen
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
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