The Bible and Thoughts about Covid-19
Hey everybody,
Over the last couple of weeks I shared with you 10 podcasts over Passion week. It was a sort of “baptism by fire” in starting a podcast. And of course one of the main reasons I decided to do podcasts was because of Covid-19, and the ban on gatherings of more than 10 people. It started as a recommendation in a White House press conference, oh, when was that, last year some time…well no that’s just what it feels like. It was March 16th. And we were already aware that something was going to happen, because the last day of school before spring break, March 12th, I actually said to another teacher, “If things keep going like they are, we won’t be coming back after Break.”
That was on a Thursday. Before Sunday came, the pastor of our Spanish congregation texted to ask if we were having church services. I responded, emphatically I might add…if you can respond emphatically in a text…”yes.” I wanted to write, “yes, why wouldn’t we?”
Fear was already starting to grow among some of our people about the virus. But I had read the articles, and watched the news casts. So I went into the pulpit that Sunday with a message directed at the fear.
And the point of my sermon was, that we should not, if we are Christians, be a fearful people. The major points of my sermon were a list of things a Christian shouldn’t fear. I compiled that list from a search in the Bible of all the places the word fear, or afraid is used. And the things that a Christian shouldn’t fear included, poverty, government, people, disaster, war, and finally death.
I incorporated lots of faith inspiring verses like;
Psalm 56:3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
2 Timothy 1:7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Isaiah 12:2Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”
Now, the point behind that sermon was not to encourage our members to say, “This is stupid, I’m not going to get sick, or die.” Our church is an older congregation. And there’s one thing they have taught me, and that is that any of us could die at any time. Our lives are in God’s hands. That doesn’t mean that we don’t take precautions against illness.
It doesn’t mean that we have a flippant attitude about danger or disease. We go to the doctor, follow his or her directions, but ultimately, we trust God with the number of our days.
Well, I knew going to services that Sunday, that our numbers would be down. I had told people, “If you are sick, or have existing conditions that put you at risk, then stay home.” And in my heart I was thinking, “But we’re having church.” And we did, with a congregation about a third of its normal size.
It was on March 16th after the presidential press conference that we, along with the majority of churches in the nation, canceled services for the next two weeks. But I let it be known that, unless they continued the recommendation against gathering, we would be back to church April 5th, Palm Sunday.
In the meantime, of course, school was closed for the 2019/2020 year. We had the toilet paper run, and everything else that has happened. We haven’t had church services since that Sunday. And now we are hopeful that we might be able to reopen for services, on Sunday, May 10th.
So, what, you may ask, prompted me now, to put together this podcast about Covid-19 and the Bible? It’s not as though I haven’t had thoughts about how the two subjects relate over the previous month. It’s not as though there haven’t been plenty of opportunities to jump into conversations about it.
Well. The reason I am jumping in now with this sermon, is because we may be going back to church services soon. But my question is “How are we going back?” With what attitude are we going back. I have witnessed two emotions from Christians that can be destructive; the attitudes of fear, and anger.
Many are still fearful; about the virus, or the government reaching into our lives. Others are angry; about the government, or the long-term effect on our economy.
And there are some legitimate reasons to be fearful and/or angry. But, my fear is that these emotions dominate, even the minds of Christians, because we are to strongly invested in this world, and it’s system.
But what should our thoughts be? We are to be a people with different thoughts than the world. The Bible says about God,
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says Yahweh.
And since, as followers of Jesus Christ, God is making us like Him, since we are to be holy as He is Holy, our thoughts are to be different than the world, our ways are to be different than the world.
To put it frankly, we shouldn’t be joining the world in its anger and fearfulness.
So, with all that in mind, I wanted to give you a look into what the Bible has to say regarding Covid-19, and the events that have transpired in response to it. And I am advocating for a Christian attitude about it.
So let me propose some attitudes to replace fear and anger as our attitudes about our world and this crisis, and the future.
They are thoughtfulness, thankfulness, watchfulness, faithfulness and humility. And they all come straight from the Bible.
THOUGHTFULNESS
So here we go, a Christian should approach the future with thoughtfulness.
We should think about the world differently than others do. We shouldn’t be floating down the same stream as our unbelieving neighbors. In fact, very often our thoughts will be going against the current, they will be contrary to what we are hearing around us.
And let me show you two Biblical reasons why our thoughts should be different than those around us. First, we know the Truth, and second, the world is full of lies.
First, God, in Jesus Christ is the source of all truth. We know the source of the Truth. The one and only Truth.
Moses recorded the words of God in the book of
Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, “Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth,
The psalmist calls on God to,
Guide me in your truth, and teach me, For you are the God of my salvation, I wait for you all day long.
Jesus said to the woman at the well,
But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshipers.
And to His disciples,
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
So, our source for the truth, and I mean, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, is God’s Word, the Bible.
Now, this should go without being said. But there are too many who profess to know Christ, who know very little about Christ. Who inform their thoughts, decisions and words more from mimes and gifs than from the Word of God. There are some who spend more time listening to the news broadcast each day, than they spend in the Word and prayer.
And if you want to stay fearful and angry, just fill yourself up with all that is being said about Covid-19 out there. It’s all anger and fear.
We need to remember that Scripture says that whatever you fill your mind with, becomes who you are.
Proverbs 23:6-7 New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Do not eat the bread of a[a] miser,
Nor desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks in his
heart, so is he.
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
Boy, hasn’t this last month
been a test of that. This last month has
really revealed your heart hasn’t it?
Let me ask you, has all this alone time, non-movement time, led you to a
deeper walk with God, or a deeper dive into the world?
But, instead, we are to follow Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
We need to go into the coming days with Godly thoughtfulness.
Now regarding an attitude of thoughtfulness, there’s a second reason that our thoughts should be different than the world’s. It is because this world is under the dominion of Satan, and Satan is a liar.
My friends, this may be a shock to you, brace yourself; but the world is full of lies, and liars. They are on the internet, on T.V., on radio, behind podiums, in politics; both parties, behind a newscasters desk, in world organizations, in the health profession, living next door, and in your house. We are all by nature, liars. Now that doesn’t mean that everything that comes from everyone’s mouth is a lie. It means, that to one degree or another, we all “season” our statements to suit our needs. Everyone does it. They may not even be aware that they are lying.
Let me demonstrate that to you Biblically.
Jesus said to His opponents
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
And Satan is a driving force behind this world and its systems. He is a liar, so he will influence them to speak lies.
“All men are liars.”
Now, those who are not Christians speak lies, because their father, the devil is a liar. But what about Christians?
Ephesians 2:1-3 New King James Version (NKJV)
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Paul is saying to the Ephesian Christians, you used to be like men and women of the world. You were under the thumb of Satan, the prince and power of the air. So, you, like the devil, were a liar.
And as long as we have that old sinful nature in us, we are continually drawn back to that lower nature. Our human nature wants to join the world in the telling of lies.
So what does being “thoughtful” mean?
As a believer it is the call to think God’s thoughts, not the world’s. God’s thoughts are Truth. So, if we are to be thoughtful in this world, we are to be full of God’s thoughts, and our understanding, of the world should be, it’s full of lies.
That means you need to have a healthy skepticism about what you hear.
Again, I should hardly have to say this, but, the world is full of lies and liars. Everywhere you turn, somebody is lying. And in this “information age” in which we live, lies have multiplied exponentially.
Denise and I were talking about that this week. We read articles on Facebook, we check news sites, and it seems that everyone is shading the truth in order to support their cause or belief system.
And our question was, “Who can you believe?” And most of us don’t have the time to search out the truth regarding every bit of news we get. It eventually leads us to where we are now, as a people.
In regard to the truth, many people today, believe “their guy,” and disbelieve “the other guy.” My source is correct, yours is not.
Now am I saying that every word that proceeds from the mouth of a non-Christian is a lie? No. But they are like their father, Satan, who mixes 99% truth with 1% lie, in order to deceive.
But, as a Christian, the attitude of thoughtfulness should tell us that, “all men are liars.”
Preacher, are you saying that I can’t trust my doctor, or lawyer, etc.? Well, that’s where a healthy skepticism comes in. Tell me this, if you get a call or email asking for your Social Security number, do you automatically give it to them. I hope not. But I’m sure that most of you wrote your Social Security number on this year’s tax return. Yet, most of us are suspicious of the IRS. But we learn how to work in a world full of liars.
We are not of this world. It’s like an old saying, “The only man a girl can trust is her Daddy.” Many have expressed doubts about that. But, for the Christian, “The only One that they can trust to be totally truth, is God.”
So, as a Christian, we have to be discerning. That’s what thoughtfulness means.
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
That means that we never just react to something we’ve heard. We don’t fire off 50 emails, or repost to all our friends without checking for truthfulness. We are like the Bereans in the Bible book of Acts.
Acts 17
11 These were more [d]fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Oh that Christians would be more discerning. That they would not believe everything they hear or see, even if it’s on the news. That they would not forward every rumor, or call for vengeance every time they hear some evil news.
We need to have an attitude of thoughtfulness.
THANKFULNESS
The second attitude we need to have is thankfulness.
I am amazed at how hysterical some “believers” have gotten over these weeks. And the hysteria runs the gamut of political opinion. No matter our political leanings, we’re talking about this time in history as though we’re living in the apocalypse.
People! The world is hoarding toilet paper, not us. The world is becoming hateful and vindictive with those who disagree with them, not us. The mind of Christ loves our neighbor as ourselves. And the mind of Christ is thankful.
I mean, even in the middle of all this, we have so much to be thankful for.
Yes, there are things we haven’t been able to get at the grocery store. My daughter was looking for yeast since all this started. Now mind you, she’s never made bread from scratch before, and we had plenty of bread to eat. But she suddenly decided that she wanted to make bread, but couldn’t find yeast until a week or so ago. We have T.P., but it hasn’t been consistently stocked in the stores. Eggs were short, so when I saw some, I bought them. The only problem was that my daughter and wife each had the same idea, and at one point we had over 3 dozen eggs in the fridge.
And though there are examples of this virus being used as a political football, and though we haven’t been able to meet for several weeks, we still live in a society where the Word of God can be broadcast, and where you can find a new Bible study to listen to every hour of the day if you wanted to.
The stores aren’t empty. The hospitals are still accepting patients. Our gas stations still have fuel, and our houses still have water, heating, cooling, and electricity.
So by comparison, we are still 100 fold better off than most people who have ever walked this planet, today or in history.
And the Bible teaches believers that we are to be a thankful people.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 [Full Chapter]
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
And one of my favorite Bible passages is about being thankful even when everything goes wrong.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 New King James Version (NKJV)
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit
be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the
stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in
the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Now, I get it. It’s easier to be negative than positive. It’s easy to see the one black dot on a field of white.
I mean, let’s be frank, many of us have been watching the downward spiral of the spiritual condition of our nation for years, even generations. Some can remember the good old days when the churches were full, people stayed married, kids were polite, and nobody would dream of walking around Walmart, coughing on people and telling them that they had the Coronavirus.
And some remember when Christianity was honored, prayer was a part of the routine of school, and people tried to live by the golden rule.
But society’s decay has always been. And if you have been faithful in the study of the Word of God, you know that this is exactly how it was predicted to go. For example,
Matthew 24:12 says that as we get closer to the end
lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold.
It was predicted that toward the end, governments will become hostile to Christianity, and the world will become less and less concerned with their fellow man.
So it can be frightening to witness the day when in one afternoon, a governor can simply say, “we’re ordering you not to have church,” and it just happens.
Now, nobody is saying that current leaders have any seditious motives for doing this. It’s just alarming how easily it was done.
So, we can become consumed with the pessimism of the hour. We can be caught up in the swirl of dooms-Sayers prognostications, and see the apocalypse under every rock.
But, that is not have faithful Christians have lived in the past, or even in the present. Our problem in Christian America has been that we are insulated from persecution for most of our country’s history. Christians outside of America have dealt with government mandates and societal hostility far more than we have.
Take Chinese Christians for example. In China today, Christians cannot hold government office. Religious groups have to be registered with the government or they cannot practice their faith openly. You have to have 50 people as part of your religion to be recognized, and that is no guarantee that the government will allow your group to practice their faith. Even “approved” religious groups are under the supervision and scrutiny of the religious affairs department of the Chinese government.
Listen to that people, in the Communist government of China there is an actual “Religious Affairs” Department that sets rules, authorizes faith groups, and watches churches to see if they are following the rules.
Some of the rules are; All religious activities must be confined to the religious site. No home prayer groups, no visitation. House gatherings are forbidden. Foreign missionaries are not allowed to preach their faith anywhere but in an approved religious site and only if they have received government permission.
Now those are some of the “official” rules for churches in China. We have heard accounts of Chinese preachers being imprisoned, church buildings being burned down, and the Bible being retranslated and annotated in order to come in line with the Communist doctrine of the dictatorship.
So, we’ve gone a few Sunday’s without meeting. We need to be thankful for what we still have. We haven’t suffered to the extent of many in Christian history.
That reminds me of a Bible verse.
Hebrews 12:3-5 World English Bible (WEB)
3 For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin.
The author of Hebrews was addressing the Jewish people who were enduring suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ, and he says;
“As you guys think about your suffering, you need to remember what Jesus suffered, and keep in mind that you haven’t yet suffered to the point of shedding your blood.”
We haven’t been brought to be beaten, or to die for our faith. Be thankful.
Now I’m not trying to downplay where all of this might go. I think that we may have set a very dangerous precedent for the future. But I’m just trying to remind us all to be thankful for what we have.
The old hymn says, “Count Your Blessings.”
There have been some blessings that have come out of this. More preachers are getting the Word out online than ever before. As one pastor I know put it, “Now we’re all televangelists!” Families are spending more time together. And dare I say this? Bars and strip clubs are closed, and crime has significantly declined. Some parents are taking an active role in their kids’ educations. Families are cooking more meals at home. People are beginning to value getting out in the yard to mow or plant flowers. People are listening to the Word of God preached, in their homes, And overall, we’re discovering that we don’t need all the stuff we thought we did.
Now, don’t mistake me for a Pollyanna, silver lining, rainbows and butterflies kind of guy. I know that unemployment is up, suicide is up, and people are afraid and angry.
But scripture tells Christians,
For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
So, approach life with a thankful heart.
WATCHFULNESS
Well, the 3rd attitude I would suggest for Christians in the coming days is watchfulness.
We’ve got to keep our spiritual eyes open.
Mark 13:33-35 World English Bible (WEB)
33 Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.
34 “It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35 Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming, whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning;
Jesus spoke this parable 2000 years ago. We are always to be watchful. We are to be observers of “the signs of the times.”
I have heard from two kinds of Christians in this regard. The first kind of Christian sees things happening that could lead us toward the prophesied “end times.” The second kind of Christian looks on the first as tin foil hat alarmists who’ve been carrying “The End is Near” signs around since the 70’s.
And, to be truthful, we have taken far too many “End of the World” scares seriously.
But let me try to strike a balance between the two; and that balance is watchfulness.
Watchfulness strikes a balance like the one Paul advocated to the Thessalonian church.
1 Thessalonians 4: 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
And the church reacted in 2 ways,
You see, in that 1st century church, one type of the Christians heard Paul talking about the return of Christ, and the end of the world, and they just quit their jobs, set up their pup tents on a hill and waited.
2 Thessolonians 3: 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
A second type of the Christians heard Paul preaching about the return of Christ, and were mindful, thoughtful, but kept on working, and going on with life.
Watchfulness is noting the signs of the times, but continuing to live out your faith reasonably in this continually wicked generation. Watchfulness is knowing where the Bible says the world is headed.
Anyone who takes the Bible seriously has to believe that the world is headed in one direction; to an end, to Jesus return, and to judgment. The Bible has repeatedly stated those truths.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
1 Corinthians 3: 12 But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble, 13 each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.
Now, how are we to know that that Day is approaching? Obviously, if it is coming, we get closer to it each hour that passes. But how do we know if we are near to that day?
We, as Christians, are admonished to be watchful for the signs of the times.
But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
What are the signs of the times? Well, I’m not going to go into a great deal of detail here, but here are some of the things that are supposed to happen as we approach and enter the final years before Jesus returns, and their possible connection to current events.
One world governmental control; Do we see our world moving in this direction? A one world government will have control over, Who can meet, where you can go, who you can see, what you can buy?
Plagues, and famine are going to multiply; So, like this year’s pandemic, because of disease and fear, people run short of basic necessities like bread, they panic and hoard necessities, depriving others of needed things.
The increase of wickedness and love growing cold; people becoming socially isolated and caring less for others
A massive turning away from the faith and persecution of the Church; Now, this is yet to be seen, but some fear that after this lockdown, a great number of people will quit valuing meeting in worship, many churches will go digital; and notice how people have become suspicious and hostile toward those who do continue to meet
The gospel will be preached to all nations; I’ve already noted that many preachers have taken to the internet to post sermons. Gospel preaching is going out into cyberspace at an unprecedented rate
A one world digital money system; This is one “watchful” thought I’ve had. How long before someone calls for doing away with those germy coins and bills?
Nation rising against nation; China’s army marches west. Another “watchful” thought. Will the economic impact of this virus response lead some countrys to war?
Now I’m not saying all of that as some sort of prophecy. I say it because Christians need to be watchful, always. I don’t say all that to create a spirit of fear. Truthfully, we’ve been marching toward the end, from the time of Christ until now. But we are to be watchful.
Well, you may say, what good is watchfulness? Why are we watching? We are watching over our own souls, and those of other believers. There is going to be a “great falling away” from the faith before the end. And I believe it’s going to happen because many are not prepared for things to go bad for Christians. As Jesus said, the deception at the end is going to be so powerful, that if it were possible, the very elect (Christians) will be deceived.
Now some of you may be thinking, “Well aren’t Christians going to be caught away, or raptured before this end-times stuff (the Great Tribulation) starts?”
I’ve touched on that subject before. But suffice it to say that Bible experts fall into different camps on that question. Serious Bible study leads us to only one conclusion, that Jesus is going to catch away His Church.” But the question is, when? Some believe it will be before the Tribulation. Some believe it will be in the middle of the Tribulation, and others that it will be at the end of the Tribulation.
I’m not going to discuss what I believe here. I’m going to talk about watchfulness.
Frankly, I think if we asked the Lord who is right, it would be similar to Joshua’s encounter with the pre-incarnate Christ on the eve of Israel’s battle with Jericho.
Joshua 5:13-15 King James Version (KJV)
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship,
Joshua asked the Captain of God’s hosts whether He was on Israel’s side or the enemies side. And the Captain said “No.” I’m on God’s side.
If the Lord were visibly right here before me, and I asked, Lord, are you on the pre-tribbers side or the post-tribbers side, He’d say “No” but as the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Word of God have I come. And I wouldn’t ask any more questions, I’d just worship.
You see, I think that when all of history has played out, including the return of Christ and the millennium, that we’re all going to be surprised.
Watchfulness means being ready whenever and whatever happens. A soldier on guard duty doesn’t know if the enemy will attack at midnight, 2 or 4:36 AM. So, they can’t sleep.
They can’t say, “Oh, I know that my guard duty is going to be over before the enemy comes because I’m a dispensationalist, pretribulation premillennialist. I’m gonna take a nap.”
If I knew that guard, I would say to them, “What if you are wrong?”
Watchfulness means that we stay awake all night. We are ready for whatever happens.
That’s watchfulness. And again, let me issue a gentle warning to believers. You need to quit buying everything that is being fed to you. Sometimes you need to unplug the newsfeed, and plug into the Word and prayer.
FAITHFULNESS
The fourth attitude of the Christian in this dying world is faithfulness.
Regardless of what happens at the end of this Covid-19 world event, Christians are called to remain faithful.
Faithful to what? To our Lord, and to His commandments.
Matthew 24: 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. 47 Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. 48 But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, 51 and will cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
This passage so closely fits the day we’re in. We have professing Christians who have joined in with the world in it’s attitudes. They’ve quit measuring their decisions and attitudes by Biblical standards, and they in effect are saying “my Lord is delaying his coming.” So they become angry, and violent toward fellow servants, other Christians, and they start living life for the fun they can have; eating and drinking with the drunkards.
You know, speaking of faithfulness, There are many things that have surprised me over the last twenty years of my life. But the most surprising has been how quickly people I knew, who had professed to be Bible believing Christians, jumped ship and began adopting the world’s standards of morality. It has been shocking how many Christians are loving and gracious in person, but angry, hateful, and vengeful when they get in front of a computer keyboard.
And if you don’t believe me, go into a “Christian” chat room and identify yourself with any political party, Republican or Democrat, and start reading what people will say about you. And what some will say should happen to you.
Now I’m not so naïve as to believe that every person who calls themselves “Christian” online, or in person, is actually a believer.
But that’s what Jesus parable means. In the end times, people who identify as Christians, but who are not, will start outwardly manifesting the true state of their hearts.
And some of you need to step back a minute, and look at your attitude. You’re walking around angry or fearful in the world.
But this Covid-19 event, just like every other event in history, is an opportunity.
It is an opportunity to choose Love over Hate; It is an opportunity to choose faith over fear.
Love over hate
Jesus said, in Matthew 5
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.
Leading over following
It is an opportunity to lead rather than follow. It is possible, that by our attitudes, we can lead others into anger and fear.
He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.
On the other hand, we can choose faith and love and be a leader to truth.
David wrote in
Psalm 51: 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
It is an opportunity to become more like Christ, not more like the world.
Romans 12:2 World English Bible (WEB)
2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Eternity over decay
And it is an opportunity to remind ourselves that as the old hymn says, this world is not my home, I’m only passing through we are like Abraham who
Hebrews 11:9-10 World English Bible (WEB)
9 By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
To those who are fearful about death, if you are a Christian, this is not the city of your final dwelling, you’re looking for a heavenly city. For those of you fearful for our country and constitution. This is not the city of your citizenship.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
In these unprecedented times, we are to remain faithful.
And in conclusion, the final attitude for the Christian in the coming days is humility.
HUMILITY
We need to approach all of this with humility. It amazes me how many experts there are now regarding the Coronavirus. In fact, the parody news site, the Babylon Bee, let me repeat if you didn’t hear me, the parody news site, the Babylon Bee reported that Facebook was going to begin issuing printable medical degrees. When a user offered a medical opinion on Facebook, a pop-up message would appear, saying “It looks like you’ve offered an expert medical opinion on the internet. Click the button below to claim your printable medical degree.”
And it seems now that everyone has become an expert.
We need to approach all of this with humility. I’m not a doctor, I’m not an expert. I’m not an expert on politics. I can’t read the governor’s or the attorney general’s or the presidents mind. I know a little bit about a few things, but I know little to nothing about an infinitesimal number of things.
But yet everybody is an expert on all of it. But as a believer, we need to be humble.
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;
Ephesians 4:1-3 World English Bible (WEB)
4 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.
One of the best Biblical examples of this is a comparison of Jesus and Paul. They both ended up on trial before the Sanhedrin. And both made statements that resulted in their being slapped across the face by a temple guard. This was Paul’s reaction when the high priest ordered that he be struck.
Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
We might say that that was an example of righteous indignation. Paul was on trial. It wasn’t determined whether he was guilty or not. So to order that he be struck, was against the law. Now compare that to Jesus.
John describes that at Jesus trial, the high priest asked Him about His disciples and His doctrine. And Jesus replied,
“I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, they know the things which I said.”
But the guard took that as an insolent answer, and struck Jesus in the face. Now, did Jesus call anybody a white-washed wall? Did Jesus get angry? No, He knew the world He was living in, and He simply replied,
“If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?”
He remains calm, and humble.
Now if Jesus remained humble, who was all-knowing, the embodiment of truth, when it was obvious that He was perfect, and those trying Him were evil, then shouldn’t we be humble who are far less than perfect? And when we do not have perfect understanding, motives, or actions?
And, we need to know is that not only are we apt to get things wrong, but everybody else will as well, so we must approach brothers and sisters in Christ, people around us, and those who govern us with a spirit of grace and forgiveness.
Thoughtfulness, Thankfulness, Watchfulness, Faithfulness, and Humility
Let us pray, Thank you Lord for the presence of your Spirit as we have considered your Word. Guide us through this valley, and we count on your promise that You will work it all out for good. In Jesus name we pray, Amen