Corona

Ok now that almost everyone on the planet has chimed in on the Corona virus. I will join into the fray today to share my thoughts on the matter from a biblical perspective. It seems that there is a wide array of fears, challenges and denial to the seriousness of the pandemic facing us. This is certainly not business as usual for our people.

Therefore, what can we learn from this situation? Is there a spiritual dynamic in play that the ordinary person has no idea or understanding? These are the questions that I would like to address today.

During my recent devotional time, I believe that the Holy Spirit has led me to study deeply a prophetic Old Testament book titled Zephaniah. The more that I studied, the more I realized how closely the history of that time  in the Nation of Judah compares to where we are today in our pandemic.

 Zephaniah served as a prophet to King Josiah. Josiah was a good man who implemented many reforms compared to the evil kings historically before him. However, he faced many obstacles of the residual evil practices by his contemporary leaders. In essence, he was trying to “drain the swamp.”  The context of Zephaniah prophetic words were aimed at confronting the swamp. The message that he brings is a message of coming judgement. Judah would be going into destruction, exile and calamity.

 For many of us who love God, we want to communicate how much God loves the world. Which is very true. However, there is an aspect of God’s wrath and judgment that are very real as well. During these times, I believe that God wants to get our attention spiritually! Zephaniah’s words call for repentance, both for the ungodly people and for God-fearing people as well.

Now today for those who do not know God, the call is to begin to seek him. If you are fearful about where we are at, do something about that fear, don’t let it consume you. Use this calamity to find spiritual peace and security in Jesus. He is the great hope for the world. This is most likely the most important decision that you will ever make in your lifetime. The consequences of your actions have eternal significance.

For those of us who are Christians, the call is for us to humble ourselves, snap out of our complacency, seek out the face of God, pray hard and turn away from evil or distraction. The key verse in Zephaniah is in chapter 2, verse 3, it says “Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the Lord."

This is truly a time for the church to awaken from her slumber. Instead of complaining about our Sunday services being shut down, let’s seize the opportunity to be kingdom seeking.  By asking God to extend His kingdom to those who are hurting and oppressed, to bring the good news of the Gospel, to bring hope for despair, and beauty for ashes.

Zephaniah 3:14-17 states “Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

 This is where our hope for the future and our destiny lives. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.