Coronavirus Confinement
Who knew in my lifetime there would be a global pandemic. I remember studying the idea of an illness that was worldwide in my college health classes. It seemed farfetched and seemingly impossible. But now, nearly forty years later, here we are in the midst COVID-19 which is killing thousands of people in horrific ways.
Governments have been shutting down cities, airports, restaurants, and just about any other location where people are known to gather, to halt the spread of the virus. Everyone is encouraged to wear masks, wash their hands, and even their groceries. Hand sanitizer and toilet paper were quick to disappear off the shelves of stores. Schools were closed before the school year was even over and high school as well as most college graduations were canceled.
Life went on hold due to Coronavirus confinement. It's a story no one could predict and worse yet no one can determine when this nightmare will end. What's next? How do we proceed with life "as usual" or will "usual" never exist again? Depression, suicide, and domestic abuse has been reported as the days have turned into weeks, and the weeks into months. Budges have gotten tighter and food pantries have become bare.
Where is God? That's a question I've heard some people ask. God is where God has always been. He is the Creator of the Universe, the One True God, the Alpha and Omega, and He exists everywhere. He sees our struggles. But many of us haven't been willing to humble ourselves and ask Him for help. We are too busy trying to make things happen in our own energy, working harder, or sacrificing more of our time or money.
A quote in the book of James 4:2-3 in the Holy Bible says it like this, "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." Many people have found out that they have not saved enough money for an emergency situation like a loss of job or severe illness. But will God help them despite the fact that they didn't "save for a rainy day"?
To answer the question, God is where He's always been, in control. There is a battle for control of the world, but it's not governments trying to overthrow each other; it's principalities. In Ephesians 6:12, the Bible tells us, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Satan is the evil, fallen angel that wants to rule and reign on earth. He endeavors to take control by getting people to give up on the idea of God and instead see themselves as the ones in charge. Once humans see themselves as the "gods" of the universe, they will essentially make everything about pleasing themselves and meeting their own needs.
Coronavirus confinement will be a walk in the park compared to a globe full of over 7 billion little gods. As a Christian, our goal is to dethrone ourselves, not an easy endeavor either. We desire our will, but to live as a follower of Christ we are to "pick up our cross daily" (Luke 9:23). This means we are to crucify our wants/will and give ourselves back to the will of God daily. Step down from our self-made thrones and slip on our sandals to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
To have your prayers heard by God, you must have a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ, whom He allowed to die on the cross for the sins of the billions of beings of this world. Tell Jesus Christ that you know you are a sinner, you have done your own thing and gone your own way, but you are ready to return to the Father in Heaven. Ask Christ Jesus to forgive you of your wayward path and put you on His path for your life. Trust Him and believe in faith, that Jesus Christ was sent to the world to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior.
Once you have prayed that prayer, and believed it in your heart, your soul is no longer available for Satan to take and send to hell. You will be held in the secure Hand of Jesus Christ at that point, regardless of what happens to your flesh, your eternal soul will be safe in heaven for eternity. So take this opportunity, while you are in Coronavirus confinement to read the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Ask God to guide and direct you in your reading and fill you with wisdom about life and all the struggles you are currently dealing with, He will not leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8). Take a step of faith, put aside what you think, and open your mind to the One who already knows what you think and loves you anyway.
Governments have been shutting down cities, airports, restaurants, and just about any other location where people are known to gather, to halt the spread of the virus. Everyone is encouraged to wear masks, wash their hands, and even their groceries. Hand sanitizer and toilet paper were quick to disappear off the shelves of stores. Schools were closed before the school year was even over and high school as well as most college graduations were canceled.
Life went on hold due to Coronavirus confinement. It's a story no one could predict and worse yet no one can determine when this nightmare will end. What's next? How do we proceed with life "as usual" or will "usual" never exist again? Depression, suicide, and domestic abuse has been reported as the days have turned into weeks, and the weeks into months. Budges have gotten tighter and food pantries have become bare.
Where is God? That's a question I've heard some people ask. God is where God has always been. He is the Creator of the Universe, the One True God, the Alpha and Omega, and He exists everywhere. He sees our struggles. But many of us haven't been willing to humble ourselves and ask Him for help. We are too busy trying to make things happen in our own energy, working harder, or sacrificing more of our time or money.
A quote in the book of James 4:2-3 in the Holy Bible says it like this, "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." Many people have found out that they have not saved enough money for an emergency situation like a loss of job or severe illness. But will God help them despite the fact that they didn't "save for a rainy day"?
To answer the question, God is where He's always been, in control. There is a battle for control of the world, but it's not governments trying to overthrow each other; it's principalities. In Ephesians 6:12, the Bible tells us, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Satan is the evil, fallen angel that wants to rule and reign on earth. He endeavors to take control by getting people to give up on the idea of God and instead see themselves as the ones in charge. Once humans see themselves as the "gods" of the universe, they will essentially make everything about pleasing themselves and meeting their own needs.
Coronavirus confinement will be a walk in the park compared to a globe full of over 7 billion little gods. As a Christian, our goal is to dethrone ourselves, not an easy endeavor either. We desire our will, but to live as a follower of Christ we are to "pick up our cross daily" (Luke 9:23). This means we are to crucify our wants/will and give ourselves back to the will of God daily. Step down from our self-made thrones and slip on our sandals to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
To have your prayers heard by God, you must have a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ, whom He allowed to die on the cross for the sins of the billions of beings of this world. Tell Jesus Christ that you know you are a sinner, you have done your own thing and gone your own way, but you are ready to return to the Father in Heaven. Ask Christ Jesus to forgive you of your wayward path and put you on His path for your life. Trust Him and believe in faith, that Jesus Christ was sent to the world to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior.
Once you have prayed that prayer, and believed it in your heart, your soul is no longer available for Satan to take and send to hell. You will be held in the secure Hand of Jesus Christ at that point, regardless of what happens to your flesh, your eternal soul will be safe in heaven for eternity. So take this opportunity, while you are in Coronavirus confinement to read the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Ask God to guide and direct you in your reading and fill you with wisdom about life and all the struggles you are currently dealing with, He will not leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8). Take a step of faith, put aside what you think, and open your mind to the One who already knows what you think and loves you anyway.
John 10:28
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;
neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
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