Corona virus, fear, death! What Christians must do?
With the spread of the Corona virus around the world. People start to panic out of fear. The media with its report on increasing number of infected people and governments imposing security measures through lock-downs only made people much more fearful to the point of hoarding food.
People are now advised to stay home to contain the spreading of the Corona virus. Activities non-essential to human life were stopped. No more concerts, eating at the restaurants, shopping, travelling and parties. So what are they to do ? Continue watching the fear mongering news ? Indulge themselves in Netflix series ? Waste their time in social media ? This is true for non-Christians, but what should Christians do ?
It should be our priority as Christians to pray. Pray for the people to reflect about the reality of life. That non-believers would come to ask themselves important questions like, what would their life be after death ? Why are they afraid of dying ? In reality, everyone who has not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior has a reason to fear death. Because judgement is upon them. Without Jesus as their advocate, they will not be judged righteous. Romans 6:23 says,
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This is an opportunity for us Christians to witness the goodness of God. Not everybody will accept Jesus. Some will be hostile to us, or even mock us, but this is also the time where much people are susceptible to hold on to something or somebody that gives them hope. Let’s not give-up in finding the person of peace who will be willing to accept Jesus. We should be telling non-believers not to fear but to have faith and hope in God. The bible says in 2 Corinthians 5 :6-10,
So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
Fear comes to those who love evil, keep their evil ways and who rejects the Lord. The verse says that as Christians we should be fully confident that to die is to be with the Lord. So whether, we die or not, our goal on earth as Christian is to please the Lord. How do we please the Lord as Christians ? Hebrews 11 :6 says,
Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.
Despite the Corona virus, Christians should have a thankful attitude, as it is written in 1 Thessalonians 5 :18
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. »
God will use bad circumstances for good and for His glory. Just like in the story of Joseph, Job, Daniel, and Esther. Do not fear ! Be prayerful, hopeful and spread the Gospel. The best is yet to come !