When the world cries in panic, let us cry in worship! Discover how to live in today's pandemic as a Christian.
This weekend, the Lord helped me discover a small epiphany that opened my eyes to the truth. Let’s just say that it truly struck me how little the world actually knows about what is going on. Spiritually, that is.
Every physical hiccup we encounter, no matter how blind-sided we may feel, it is inevitably the consequence of a previous spiritual explosion. Imagine it this way: a bomb goes off in heaven and the waves it produce slowly hit the earth eventually. Sometimes that means that it takes longer to hit us, which in turn suggests that we don’t receive the whole repercussions immediately, but they come slowly and in turn— like waves. Sometimes a wave can come alone and only cause a small shiver, but most of the time, if there’s one wave, there will be another. As for its intensity, only God can predict whether it grows or diminishes with each wave.
Why am I telling you all this? Because I wanted to make sure we realise that COVID-19 is not simply a physical attack of the enemy. It’s not just a little sickness upon us like any other highly-infectious, peace-stealing, death-inducing disease out there. Each change in the atmosphere, and especially in humanity’s stability is an attack directly from the devil with his swords of darkness.
Everything in this world has a source. It’s either good or evil.
How can you be sure? You may ask. Well, first of all, be certain that everything in this world has a source. It’s either good or evil. Either God or the devil. And the way to know who is behind what, is to look at its fruits. Well, looking at the fruits of the pandemic, what fruits do we find? Panic, fear, stress, illness, death, separation of humanity, intolerance with one another, judgement, comparison... amongst other things.
Unless you haven’t noticed, these things are certainly good, and not of the Lord. If the source is the devil, he is clearly trying to cause chaos in the world, and is certainly succeeding in some ways presently. But why does God allow it?
Well that’s a different question. We don’t always know the reasons behind God's actions and permission. But that does not make them evil and it certainly doesn’t mean we should stop trusting Him. Our trust in God always -- and I mean, always -- pays off in the end.
When the Lord confirmed the source of this situation to me, then confirmed that He is waiting for His children to trust and reach out to Him now more than ever, He took one last step with me that gave me the confidence that God is still in control. Even if it may not look that way.
There are signs pointing to the fact that we are in the end times (although we kind of knew that already didn’t we), to show us the corruption, dishonesty and darkness that lies behind all the reactions of the world. But even in the middle of all this change and difficulty for the church of God and the practical persecution happening under the surface, the Lord continues to encourage His children that He not only knows the whole truth, but also knows how this will end.
Even in the middle of persecution, the Lord continues to encourage His children that He not only knows the whole truth, but also knows how this will end.
Believe it or not, we have a powerful word for the time we live in today. A word showing us that the Lord saw this coming long ago. Not only did this word apply once upon a time, but it applies today that much more.
Let us briefly study Psalm 2 together to get some answers.
Let’s read the following scripture together with a ready mind to receive the truth and get some answers. Let us briefly study Psalm 2 together from the Passion translation: praying it lifts your faith to receive peace and confidence that God is in control not just of the world, the devil and humanity, but your own personal life:
“How dare the nations plan a rebellion. Their foolish plots are futile! Look at how the power brokers of the world rise up to hold their summit as the rulers scheme and confer together against Yahweh and his Anointed King, saying: “Let’s come together and break away from the Creator. Once and for all let’s cast off these controlling chains of God and his Christ!”
In this first section, we see the psalmist talking of people wanting to rebel against God, wanting to remove any kind of association they have with Him and be ‘free’. This relates to today’s influence of the enemy. He makes us think, ‘oh God doesn’t care about us, He‘s allowed all of this to go on, so we might as well forget our decision to follow Christ.
There are many Christians mad with God right now for they don’t understand what’s happening. But even more than the obvious explanation of those that are losing faith comes the topic of the government officials. Many people of power are being used by the devil to take advantage of the situation we are in and keep people away from serving their God, they truly are coming together to scheme against our Anointed King: all under the innocent-looking cape of a pandemic that apparently excuses this behaviour. So don't be fooled into thinking their decisions, new laws and restrictions have nothing to do with God! EVERYTHING has to do with God.
"God-Enthroned merely laughs at them; the Sovereign One mocks their madness! Then with the fierceness of his fiery anger he settles the issue and terrifies them to death with these words: “I myself have poured out my King on Zion, my holy mountain. I will reveal the eternal purpose of God. For he has decreed over me, ‘You are my favored Son. And as your Father I have crowned you as my King Eternal. Today I became your Father. Ask me to give you the nations and I will do it, and they shall become your legacy. Your domain will stretch to the ends of the earth. And you will shepherd them with unlimited authority, crushing their rebellion as an iron rod smashes jars of clay!’
Wow. Isn't our God powerful! First of all, we see our Creator, the master and maker of the universe practically mock these attempts. The way He is painted as someone laughing at these people's rebellion is such a relief. It shows us that any kind of effort made on earth doesn't even come close to touching our everlasting, all-encompassing, powerful and majestic God. One strike of His anger and all things planned against Him and His church fall to ash.
He then goes on to tell us how Jesus, His magnificent son will come as the King Eternal. These are the words of a proud Father speaking about His obedient son who chooses to sacrifice Himself for the unworthy. He also confirms (and may I remind you this is the Psalms, this is before Jesus was even known of, therefore it's pure and obvious prophesy of the future that our God, yet again, just like today, had everything under His control), He confirms that this son will come and 'smash' sin into the depths of hell. This reminds us yet again just what power the blood of Jesus has provided us. The authority we hold through Him allows us to face hell and come out unscathed. So our hope today is our hope tomorrow: Jesus. He still holds all the power in this contagion.
”Listen to me, all you rebel-kings and all you upstart judges of the earth. Learn your lesson while there’s still time. Serve and worship the awe-inspiring God. Recognize his greatness and bow before him, trembling with reverence in his presence. Fall facedown before him and kiss the Son before his anger is roused against you. Remember that his wrath can be quickly kindled! But many blessings are waiting for all who turn aside to hide themselves in him!”
I just adore this last passage. It's like one last warning from our God that says He still loves us and allows time for repentance for He knows we don't stand a chance alone. But looking at the way He addresses the enemy shows how our God is not afraid, panicked or trembling even a little bit. He's waiting for His due worship and reverence because His wrath can be easily tamed through our conscious choice to bow before Him. This even counts for the enemy. But the devil will never bow to the Lord, therefore He is condemned to eternal punishment along with those that follow him.
In conclusion, the way Psalm 2 ends speaks to you and I: the ones that still choose to hide ourselves, take refuge in and trust in our Saviour Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. What does the Bible say? That many blessings await us. And God doesn't mess around with promises. He is a promise-keeper. Even in the middle of chaos, destruction, darkness. Our God doesn't change, and our faith shouldn't either. The only kind of change should be increase.
Keep praying for breakthrough, faith and trust, and for constant victory over the enemy's intentions.
I'm here today to encourage you. Let us believe and trust in our all-powerful God. What can I do for the Lord during this tough time, you may ask. The Bible says praying should never cease. If you can't share the gospel with the public, or have connections that allow you to spread your faith and light unto others, then you can still do one thing. First, don't allow loneliness or solitude to influence your mind or spirit. You can find peace and great joy with the Holy Spirit in your very room. Second, keep praying. Pray for breakthrough, faith and trust, and for constant victory over the enemy's intentions. Remember, God laughs at the devil's plans to kill and destroy. So we should too. Stand fearless and confident: we are on God's side, and He always wins.
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