By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post #161 ~
This plague, the Coronavirus Epidemic, is one of God’s way of telling Christians that our world is experiencing “birth pains,” defined as wars, famines, earthquakes and plagues (Matt. 24 and Luke 21). These signs, occurring in various parts of the world, are to wake us up, to alert us to the fact that we are living in the end-times, and that it won’t be long before the coming of Christ to rapture the church. But many people, seeing what is happening with regards to this epidemic, and not understanding God’s overall purposes, are afraid, even panicking. In my last post I talked about this fear, but more needs to be said, for God doesn’t want you to ever be afraid, but to know Him and what He’s doing. Let’s continue, and learn some more important lessons:
1. God is sovereign over the coronavirus, and the Coronavirus Pandemic. “I am the Lord, and there is no other, the One forming darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity.” (Isaiah 45:6-7). God is the First Cause, the One who decreed this virus, and allowed it to spread to over 150 countries, and infect hundreds of thousands of people. It’s imperative that you see this pandemic as part of God’s divine purposes, part of His grand plan for you, the church and the whole world. Knowing that God ordained it, that He is in charge, should humble you. That, along with the fact that God is wise, good and loving, should alleviate your fears, and give you peace. Indeed, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:28
2. When you are afraid, go to God’s word. “In God, whose word I praise, in God, I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.” (Ps. 56:4). Not having God’s word in your heart will cause you to lose your footing and direction in life. When you are fearful, remember God’s truth, for it is foundational – it anchors your soul. Remember God’s commands, for they give clear direction to your life, paving the way so you can walk and not get weary and run and not get tired. Remember God’s promises for they speak of hope, a much better time and place when all is perfect. In times of a crisis and fear, God’s word, coupled with the Spirit’s work, will strengthen, guide and encourage you, enabling you to be useful to Him. God’s word is always the answer to every problem that is spiritual in nature. Matt. 24:35, 2 Tim. 3:16-17
3. Get quality time with God. You can easily be overwhelmed by the things you think you need to do. If you are worried and bothered by the details of life, it may mean that you are not getting the time with God that you need. “Whom have I in heaven but You, and besides You, I desire nothing on earth” (Psalm 73:23-26). The single most important thing you can do in life is to spend time with God, for when you do, you will be comforted by His love, strengthened by His truth, and fearless when facing problems. “Only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42
4. Do not to be afraid when global calamities take place. Psalm 46 is about the end-times when wars and earthquakes are happening, and people are fearful. We are told four things: 1. Go to God for He is your refuge and strength, the One who is with you and can really help you (vss 1-4, 7, 11). 2. Put your hope in God, for He has a great and perfect future for you (vss 4-7). 3. Know that God will put a stop to earthquakes and wars (plagues too) and bring peace to this earth (vss 6, 8-9). 4. Stop worrying, stop trying to be in control – “Cease striving and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (vs 10). God uses these calamities to humble us, to remind us that He is God, and that His ultimate purpose is to be glorified in all the earth. Hab. 2:14, Phil. 2:9-11
5. Seek God’s kingdom instead of worrying about your own needs being met. Many people worry about food, drink, and the necessities of life, but you are not to be anxious, even when the store shelves are empty. You are to trust your heavenly Father to provide your needs. I am not saying you are not to work or shop for food, but you are not to worry about these things. Don’t waste your time and energy pursuing earthly things but set your mind on heavenly things. Get your priorities right. Your purpose in life is not getting lots of earthly goods but doing your part in helping to build God’s heavenly kingdom. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matt. 6:33, Luke 12:13-33
6. Do not be afraid when attempting the Lord’s work. When you want to do God’s work, don’t be surprised if you start feeling fearful. In the Bible we read about God giving His people work to do, and He would often command them, “Do not be afraid,” and that’s because they had this fleshly tendency to be afraid (Josh. 1:7). And so too with us. No Christian can do what God wants him to do if he is filled with fear. We must learn to overcome our fear(s). Look to your Father and be filled with His Word and Spirit, and you will be Christ-like, filled with peace, as well as the power to carry out God’s work. Now that we are in the last years leading up to Christ’s return to rapture the church, I cannot stress enough the importance of being fearless, of being a strong-and-courageous Christian who is serving his Commander in Chief. Josh. 1:7-9
7. Let your light shine. One reason for this pandemic is for the gospel to be preached. What people need most during this difficult time is not masks for their face or food for their body, but salvation for their soul. Don’t be afraid to share with people the good news. You are a child of God, and this is your time to boldly and lovingly tell the lost about their sin and about the Savior, Jesus Christ. Tell them their need to repent, and to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for their sins, and rose again, with the result that they will be born again, be forgiven, receive eternal life, and become a child of God whose permanent home is in heaven. “You are the light of the world… Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 5:14-18
8. Be strong in the Lord. As Christians, we are in a spiritual war, and when the battles come, don’t be afraid. Yes, it is true that the devil and his forces will come at you with all they’ve got, and that they are too strong and clever for you. But go to God and be humble and be filled with His word and Spirit, and then you will be strong in the Lord, and “you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Eph. 6:10-13
9. Do not be fearful of death. Many people are afraid to die, but as Christians, what may seem to be the worst thing that could happen is actually the best thing that could happen. Death should not be feared, but looked forward to, for “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). The reason we should never fear death is because we know what Jesus Christ went through for us. Since He died and rose again, and since we are in Christ, then when we physically die, we know we will continue to spiritually live, not on earth, but in heaven. Then we will be raised, be physically glorified on the last day, when the church is raptured. And if God wants you to die before the rapture, even be martyred, then that is not something to be feared, but to be faced, for then you will see Jesus, and your loved ones who went to heaven before you. “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and have the keys of death and of Hades.” Rev. 1:17-18, Rev. 2:10, John 11:25-26
P.S. As you know we are in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Here are the other posts I have written on this subject that will help you understand what God is doing, and how He wants you to think and live at this present time: “The Coronavirus – Fear and Panic or Faith and Peace” and “The Coronavirus, Plagues and the End-Times.”
Here are some more verses about fear, faith, the future and the work and glory of God.
* Isaiah 35:3-4 – “Encourage the exhausted and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Take courage, fear not, behold your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you.’”
* Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
* Isaiah 43:1 – “Thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!’”
* Daniel 10:19 – “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous.”
* Matthew 6:25-26 – “For this I reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you shall eat and drink… Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? … Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”
* Matthew 10:31 – “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.”
* Mark 4:40 – “He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’”
* Luke 1:30 – “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.”
* Luke 1:74 – “… to grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”
* Luke 5:9 – “For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken… And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.’”
* Luke 12:4 – “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”
* Luke 12:29, 31-32 – “Do not seek what you will eat… and do not keep worrying. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”
* John 14:1, 27 – “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me… Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
* Philippines 1:14 – “… and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”
* Philippines 4:6 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
* 2 Timothy 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and discipline.”
* Hebrews 10:31 – “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
* Hebrews 13:5-6 – “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
* 1 Peter 3:6 – “Just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”
* 1 Peter 5:6-7 – “Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
* 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”
* Revelation 2:10 – “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
* Revelation 21:3-4 – “God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying or pain; the first things have passed away.”