COVID and the Christian - What are we to do with this?

We are frustrated from quarantine and we have heard every different angle on this disease, how to prevent, how it happpened, how to fix the current condition, the hundreds of different “boats” everyone is in.

Fear is constantly spread to control our thinking, change our minds, determine next steps, etc

Some think we should hunker down more, others fully reopen, we want to get back to life but in reality are afraid to

Some of us never want to hear the words:

Social distancing

Essential

Stimulus

CoViD

Corona

or Virus Again!!

We have been told to pray -

That an awakening is coming

We need to repent,

Defend Christian rights,

etc

There is no doubt God is looking for our attention!!!

I agree God is the giver of good gifts, but I also know that plague, pestilence, flood, destruction, fire, are all forms of judgment that are talked about in God’s Word - if not sent by God - allowed by God!!!

However, we have to remember that all of what harms us in this world is a product of fall of man - it is induced by sinfulness.

Violence increases because of man’s greed, quest for power, and anger

The breakdown of families comes from the sin of its memebers and their selfishness and sinful choices

Even many diseases come from sinful choice

COVID 19 is now being examined as part of the GREED of a foreign government to compete, the deceitfulness to hide to protect their own self interests, and it has spread due to the political wars that exist outside and even inside of nations.

We see many in power positioning themselves for gain at the expense of people and lives, and businesses and economy, etc.

So what is it as a Christian that I must do to move God’s hand for healing, restoration and protection? What are we supposed to do with this whole COVID thing?

1. Pray and Repent

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

Many of you say - I am doing this but others are not. Something I see in Scripture is the National leading of prayer and repentance. It was not just an act of those of faith - but a call from those in leadership.

As a nation Israel were a people of faith and belief in God regardless of their sinfulness - it was much easier to bring the nation of Israel to a place of recognizing God if the Kings, Priests and Prophets did that!!! Their entire existence was in being God’s chosen people.

SOOOO, How does that apply to the world and our nation today. We are made up of atheists, agnostics, Buddhists, Muslims, sects of Christianity -

Remember this promise was to Israel as God’s chosen people...

I believe all repentance begins with God’s people!

We must repent of our own wrong doings and failures as Christians first...

We must first look to God and get serious about how we serve Him! We must come on behalf of our nation realizing many will never come to faith -

Then...

We must pray our leaders also take this position! Much pride exists in leadership and we see now more than ever that many will not look to the Lord - they deny His existence or interception in the affairs of mankind.

1 Timothy 2:2 NLT

2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

This verse calls us to pray for our leaders - (If we spent more time praying for them than we do criticizing them on social media - we could see God’s hand move --- we can all fall into the trap - myself included — but let’s strive to pray!)

I know we are quick to criticize - self included - but we must remember to pray

2. Lift Jesus Higher

As Christians - our role is to lift up Jesus!!! The Gospel and the cross and the empty grave!!

John 3:14–15 NLT

14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

This verse tells us as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness - Jesus must be lifted up!

Two ways we do this!

We draw attention to the cross!

The bronze serpent

Numbers 21:6–9 NLT

6 So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. 7 Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 9 So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!

People complained against God and His provision in their lives - such greediness - sound like our society today?

God allowed poisonous snakes to bite them and they were dying, from their seeing their wrong they called out to Moses to mediate with God.

God said make a bronze snake and lift it up and all who look at it will be healed.

A simple action to find healing - just look at it -

John 12:32 NLT

32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

Jesus had to be lifted up on the cross for man to be healed - primarily of sin! By looking to Him in Faith

God is concerned with the healing of unbelief in the world today - it is man’s unbelief and selfishness that is barreling the world toward destruction.

If man would look to Jesus - He will he saved!

So what is a Christian to do -

- LIFT Jesus up for the world to see!!!

- Let us lift Him up in praise

- Lift Him by our testimony

- Lift Him in proclamation

So people can look on Him with faith and receive!!!

3. Learning from Our Experiences

I was studying about Noah this week and it dawned on me that we are roughly 40 days now of stay at home - and we are not really released to be free

Many are pulling their hair out - including me!!!

Noah dealt with rain and floods for 40 days, but then it was just under a year longer before He could leave the ark!!! It took that long for the waters to recede and the land to dry!

What joy must have filled his heart when the dove on his second journey brought back an olive branch - hope this isolation would soon end. - but it would never be the same - all of life except what was on the ark was gone!

It’s going to be a while for normal to return - and just as the world was different after the flood (literally a vapor barrier that covered the earth providing the eco system with moisture - transitioned to seasons of rain, no rain - etc - life span of man became limited - the process of fermentation and spoil intensified -

Our world will look different after this -

How we do things and interact are going to change.

Will we learn the lessons? NOT the lessons of social distancing, but the lessons of greed, selfishness that brought this on? The lessons of not being divided as a nation? The lessons of the importance of family, quality time together, setting aside time to pray and seek the Lord, and keeping our priorities straight...

Will the work of the Kingdom of God become THE ESSENTIAL WORK in OUR LIVES????

How easy it can be to repent until the healing comes, but will we walk in the REPENTANCE?????

The flood came because of the violence and murder on the earth - but the world returned to its sinful ways after - even though the first generation saw the destruction - succeeding ones would return to their sinful ways...

I have said this weekly - I don’t believe this is a reset for a prolonged period of time but a wake up call before the final things!

This could be our last chance to learn - and even if it is not - will we hold fast to the good -

We have been shown the importance of faith in God and loving our family

The value of gathering as the church - will we return to only attend once or twice a month or will we recognize the value of the body of Christ?

The value of family dinners and speaking faith into our kids lives? Teaching our children intellectually and spiritually as we have always been called to do?

We don’t want to walk away from this season without allowing it to have PURPOSE!!!!

Conclusion

- We as the church have a call to change our lives and repent of sin and pray for our leaders to have their hearts changed

- We are called to a lift Jesus Higher for the real healing needed in these days - healed hearts from sin! Let the world see us lifting up Christ and not tearing down

- We must learn the lessons and give this season purpose and value. Not walk back into things as usual...

What priority will Christ, HIS CHURCH AND KINGDOM, RIGHTEOUS LIVING, NATIONAL UNITY, COMPASSION, FOCUSING ON FAMILY and PEOPLE take in our lives when this is all over????