I don’t know if you have read Romans 1:18 in a while. I had not, but since I am teaching through Romans in my church class Bam! there it was. The first verse in this week’s lesson.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (Romans 1:18–ESV)
Well, that is quite the verse to sit down to in the midst of our not so little pandemic. Some Bible verses require a lot of study before they connect. This one clicked onto March of 2020 like a pair of strong magnets, like coronavirus on humans.
Did God bring the coronavirus? I don’t like that thought in my head, but it got there seemingly all by itself just by reading Romans 1:18. And, once certain questions raise their hand, like sixth graders they can be persistent. Me! Me! Me! they beg. As it turns out for in my mind, I don’t want to say “yes” or even think “yes.” I have resistance to human problems as God-brought judgments. Now, there is a chance you don’t have that problem and you may have your hand on the mouse to click out of here figuring you have the gist of where this is going. Maybe, hold on a little bit, read a little bit further before that judgment-click happens.
I remember Y2K and the shameful way I perceived some Christians to respond. Y2K? That means “The Year 2000.” You may or may not remember that time when calendars rolled from the 20th Century to the 21st Century: January 1, 2000. At that point mouthpieces for some Christian organizations would be on TV with misplaced glee. Some spokespeople would almost rejoice when speaking of terrible unknowns. What happens if the computers of the world glitch? Will this bring down the world? The Y2K event (or non-event as it turned out) had many people abuzz with these flavors. I think this, coupled with a sense of non-help or help-plus-a-guilt-trip really, really turned me off to interpretations of bad human events as God-brought judgments.
Margie Simard says
Whether God caused the Coronavirus or not.
I feel like it is a reminder that God controls everything. That no matter how hard we try to be in control, We need to get right with God and do as he has commanded each one of us to love our neighbors and be a light for those who are lost.
Lane Ulrich says
Absolutely! We so badly want to control our lives, but we are really in a big, big fish tank. God set it up so that the water and food and such are changed and provided. We should accept that and as is said in Frozen 2, “Do the next, right thing.” God, of course, has given us guidance on the next, right thing. Thanks for the comment.
Ashley Cozart says
Whether God poured our corona into the world or just allowed it to happen—he expects his children to respond in a way that is a testimony of our faith in Him! Life is battle after battle—as believers we must remember we win! 🙌🏻
So this is how my mind is working at the moment with two of my immediate family dealing with anxiety over their health. ( both healthy). 😩. As I lay awake thinking about how I can convey, once again the message that God is in control and he is drawing us close through our struggles this title came to mind—
From Seed to Soldier—
We are “seeds” planted in this world—given the ability to choose to be planted in the Kingdom of God or lay dormant in the kingdom of darkness. Redeemed by Christ and planted in the Word of God we are nourished and strengthened by the Master Gardener to become “mighty warriors”—soldiers for Christ! Life in this world is a battle because the enemy—the king of cowards would love nothing more than suppress our growth by feeding into our weaknesses and creating anxiety in our hearts —trying to make us believe that our KING —the King of kings-does not have the ability to care for us! The enemy engages us first in our minds—this is where the battle begins! He tries to make us think we can’t make it without the knowledge, the luxuries, all the comforts of this world—being a soldier is too hard, too risky! Stay in your comfort zone—he says, keep your beliefs to yourself etc…Soldier! Jesus says—remember who you belong to! Remember Ephesians 6:10-18–Be strong, armor up, stand firm and pray! Whose your king? The King of kings or the king of cowards? If you are a seed planted in the kingdom of God — be a soldier! If you don’t know Him as Savior then you are coal destined for the cowards kingdom!
Lane Ulrich says
Great analogy. It is really important (and really tough…hence the need for the toughness of a soldier) to let the situations (including our own health…death? Yep) rest right in God’s hands.