The most disruptive, life changing, fear inspiring, event of recent history in America occurred this year, The Covid19 virus has not only captivated the news cycles but also our very lives in many, many ways. (Don’t you just hate wearing those masks?) So, what’s going on? How do we deal with it? What should we think about it? Let me share some biblical perspective with you.
Why did it happen?
Jesus prophesied that disease epidemics would be included among a number of signs that would indicate the end of the age.
Matthew 24:3-8 NKJV
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
The word “pestilence” is the Greek word “loimos”. It is defined as a plague or disease.
Isn’t it interesting that it is mentioned along with earthquakes (which are constantly on the increase) and nation rising against nation, (Greek, “ethnos”, ethnic groups rising against ethnic groups). We are living in the era of time that Jesus called “the beginning of sorrows”.
The “beginning of sorrows” literally means the “beginning of birth pangs”! We are fast approaching the end of the age, the return of Jesus, His millennial reign which will be followed by a New Heaven and a New Earth. There’s going to be a “Rebirth of Planet Earth”!
The birth pangs that this world is going through at present eventually will culminate in the New Earth…where there will be no more pain, sorrow, suffering nor death!
Jesus told us that these things would happen…things that should awaken people to the fact that this life and the things that people trust in are fragile, changeable, temporal and not worthy of our confidence. “Heaven and earth shall pass away but God’s word will never pass away”!
Why do these things happen? They happen because we live in a sin cursed world. We live on a sin cursed planet!
Mankind’s sin doesn’t just affect people themselves. Sin has taken a toll on the planet itself! Consider these statements of scripture.
Genesis 3:17 GNT
(God told Adam) “Because of what you have done, the ground will be under a curse”
Isaiah 24:5-6 NLT
“The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth. It’s people must pay the price for their sin.”
Leviticus 18:25 NKJV
”the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of it’s iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.”
Jeremiah 3:3 CEB
“You have corrupted the land with your cheap and reckless behavior. That’s why the showers have failed and the spring rains have ceased. Still you act like a brazen prostitute who refuses to blush.”
Hosea 4:3 KJV
“By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish…
The Apostle Paul taught that the Earth awaits its own redemption from the curse of sin.
Romans 8:21-22 KJV
“Because the [creation] itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and trevaileth in pain together until now.”
We live in a physical world gone awry! One day, this earth will be rebirthed in righteousness but for now…We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world which has been and continues to be revaged by the curse of mankind’s sin. This is why storms and tragedy occurs. This is why accidents happen! This is why disease, birth defects and death comes to human beings.
Who sent it?
Who exactly determined that Covid 19 would happen? Who sent it?
Of course, traditional Christians say that “God sent it”. Well, certainly God has allowed it for certain reasons. God gave Adam the authority over our planet and Adam handed it over to satan. God honors his arrangement with Adam but one day soon, God will take back possession of this earthly sphere.
Those of us who are of the contemporary “faith” tribe say that, “satan sent it”. This is also true. All evil and pain comes from satan, either directly or indirectly because of his intervention in mankind’s affairs. Satan inspired the breaking of man’s original relationship with God. God created all things good and all good an perfect gifts still come from him. Satan is to blame for mankind’s hardships. He is a thief according to Jesus and comes to steal, kill and destroy. However, to be accurate…
We must acknowledge that We sent it to ourselves!
There were no thorns or thistles, no sickness or pain, no lack or poverty, not hardship or curse…and no pandemics before Man sinned against God!
Satan, the enemy of God enticed Adam and Eve to rebel against God in sin. Like Adam, you, me and the whole of humanity has sinned against God. We have all sinned. Our sin negatively affects our planet. Creation was never designed to accommodate and cooperate with a human race that lives in rebellion to God. Sin rocks our planet and all creation reels because of it.
Creation is rebelling against a rebellious people! Our sin continues to disrupt the function of God’s creation. It will continue as long as sin reigns in this world. Only Jesus’ return will begin to right the wrong. Only God can save us. So….
What can we do?
First of all, we…You and I can live for Jesus! We can conquer sin, personally!
Secondly, we can dedicate ourselves to getting the message of God’s forgiveness and salvation out to a lost and chaotic world. We must tell people that there is hope. There’s a new world coming…one “wherein dwelleth righteousness” the Bible says. It will be a world where wrongs will be righted! Sin, sickness, pain, misery, death and loss will be conquered and abolished. Eternal life and blessing will abound.
Thirdly, those of us who are Children of God have a covenant of blessing with our Heavenly Father. He has promised to heal, protect, promote and bless us. We are not “under the power of sin’s curse but under grace”. (Rom. 6:14) The “law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2). Jesus is our healer! (1 Pet. 2:24) And God is our fortress!( Psa. 18:2)
Take authority over satan with God’s word in Jesus’ name. Forbid Covid 19 to enter your house and your body! If you’ve already contracted the virus, trust Jesus to heal you! You have a job to do, a mission to fulfill. Don’t submit to the curse. Submit yourself to God and resist the devil. He will flee from you! (Jam. 4:7)
Finally, I encourage you…God is on Your Side! He loves you. He will be with you if you will walk with him! Jesus’ invitation to us is “Come and follow me”. As we follow him, he will care for us, guide us, protect us and save us ongoingly from sins aftermath! Let’s trust him together!
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through his resurrection life.”
Romans 5:10 Amplfied Bible Classic Edition