Important Principles Relating to the Coronavirus
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:35-37).
Notice in this text that “things” are listed as that which could separate us from the love of God and yet the question asked is “Who?” Satan and his cohorts certainly work to separate us from God’s love and he can use both things and other persons as well.
When major tragedies occur – tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes, pandemics and many other tribulations, there are always those who are ready to judge God or use the events to deny His existence. There are several keys that we need to understand and be ready to share when we are asked about the hope that we have in Jesus Christ (I Peter 3:15).
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5,6).
- We are the creatures and God is the Creator. This is another way of saying that God is the Sovereign Ruler of everything that exists and WE ARE NOT.
- God being Sovereign, He is incapable of making mistakes and He is in control of all our circumstances (Matthew 10:29-31).
- God’s ways are different from ours. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).
- There would be no calamities of any kind if it were not for the curse of sin which took place when man sinned. We must be careful not to blame Adam and Eve, for it is very possible that we could have been the ones who brought on the curse by our sin. Even the earth itself groans and travails in pain waiting for the time when God will recreate the earth (Romans 8:22; II Peter 3:10-13).
- We must always keep in mind that God loves us and is working all things for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He is getting those who belong to Him ready for glory, not for fulfillment on earth, which will eventually be destroyed. There is nothing that can separate us from God Who loves us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).
- It is in the times of trouble that our faith is tested and if it cannot be tested, then it cannot be trusted either.
- Whether we understand it or not, all suffering is profitable if we respond in a way that pleases God. Yes, we need wisdom, strength, perseverance and faith, all of which are available to those who walk with the Lord. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22, 23).
There are answers available in the midst of every circumstance of life. According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue (II Peter 1:3). The secret to every problem in this life is to KNOW HIM and TRUST HIM.
Yes, it is trite, but the best advice is simply KEEP LOOKING UP (Colossians 3:1-4; James 3:17)
George Stiekes is a retired pastor. He currently resides in North Carolina and blogs at Reverent Reflections. We recommend his ministry and republish his material by permission.