By: Gen. Jim – Pow – 4/13/20
The world is Fearful, truly Fearful! The COVID 19 is spreading far & wide when some think they have it under control or “flattening the curve,” the infection rate goes even higher as does the DEATH rate. More deadly than the C-virus is the economic impact. It will take who knows how long for some nations to recover(??)
The communal implications are not under control. Community-focused programs, be they local, state, or federal is not slowing down this pandemic, although the media hype tell us differently at times.
But there is another epidemic on the loose – fear, loneliness, uncertain. What we need to counter this is the FEAR of God. The Christian answer to the emotional /mental /spiritual epidemic is not about what we need to do to calm down community, but rather about what Christ Jesus has already done on man’s behalf to make us community – His Living Community. The reality of this physical epidemic is causing men, women, boys, & girls to think upon Jesus, upon the Bible. The old Book is being opened & read once again. Prayers are being said, even if oh, so lightly.
As death stalks the land, Jesus’ Spirit is stalking the fearful, the lonely, the hurting. This is what God wants to happen. Joy can replace fear & sadness. The joy that comes from KNOWING Jesus – the lover of our soul – is INFECTIOUS! This instinctive desire to invite & lead others to His Kingdom, via repentance, is what evangelism is all about. While the world is scrambling to find that magic cure, that silver bullet, Jesus’ salvation is already packaged and ready to take. While the world has always popped a pill for their every ill, the gos-pill will cure any and all of the SIN PLAGUE.
Since the nature of “sin” is bondage, the nature of the gospel is liberty, FACT! Though free, we still battle SIN. But Christ has provided & supplied us with the needed weapons to “fight the good fight of faith.”
While the world is suffering under both the SIN epidemic & COVID 19 epidemic, we Christian soldiers also experience suffering & pain. But our intimacy with our Saviour helps us to ENDURE HARDSHIPS as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Some choose to live saintly & some choose to live sinful, but let us choose the first. The Holy Spirit will teach us how to DIE – “die to self.” Onward & upward.