And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:7-8)
Jesus saw the upheaval of the last days and gave us a warning. Living by faith is not an option in the world in which we live. Faith comes from hearing God (Rom. 10:17), so we must live by continually hearing God in our spirits. Only there will we find the wisdom, discernment and faith for navigating a fallen world.
For those who are free from viruses, it is not a time to be proud. There are many faith-filled Christians who may be suffering right now. They are not lepers to be shunned. Let’s extend our faith and love to all and not judge.
While much of the hysteria is being propelled by the media and those who profit from fear, we can find peace in the midst of the turmoil. As Christians we must demonstrate peace and confidence, not panic and certainly not arrogance.
Pestilences are not the judgment of God. We are in the “acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:19), the “today” of salvation (Heb. 4:1-8), and the age of grace. God is not imputing man’s sins unto him during this age (2 Cor. 5:19). Those who claim that a virus is a judgment from God have not understood the gospel. Jesus’ Word will judge all men in the last day, not before.
And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (John 12:47-48)
Let’s take God’s love and the news of His provision to all who will receive it.
The writer is a Dean of Instuctors at Charis Bible College in Colorado. Author reserves all rights to this publication. Photo Credit: facebook.com/watotochurch.
