People are losing their minds. A virus referred to as COVID-19, or coronavirus, is spreading globally. The CDC has declared it a pandemic. However, the spread of COVID-19, and the fatalities resulting from it, pale in comparison to the Swine Flu that hit during the Obama administration, yet nothing was done about the Swine Flu. So, why are people going crazy over the coronavirus?
Please do not misunderstand me. The coronavirus is serious. We should be diligent in protecting ourselves. However, we must not live in fear. After all, the “regular flu” that hits every year has done way more damage than the coronavirus has, as of now anyway.
Most people are sick of hearing and reading about the coronavirus. Therefore, I will not go into any more detail regarding the COVID-19 “pandemic”. Instead, I want to offer you a biblical perspective.
Let us start with this truth; God is in control. Nothing happens outside of His divine providence. He is on the throne. He always has been on the throne. He always will be on the throne. He never takes a day off. He never gets sick. He never gets weary. He watches over His creation, and He governs in the affairs of man. If this is true, and it is, then there is a purpose to the coronavirus.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV) - “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
The things we are facing as a nation is because it is God's judgment being unleashed. (Oh, I probably should have mentioned that this will not be politically correct) Why? Why are we facing God’s judgment? We are under judgment because we have rejected Him in our national life. People seem to forget that there are two areas that God is concerned with. First, God is concerned with our personal life. Secondly, God concerned with national life. He is Savior and Lord. He is Redeemer and King.
When a nation rejects God, they will face the judgment of God. America is not so special that she is somehow exempt from this principle. America has rejected God His rightful place in our national life, and now we are facing His judgment. I know that does not settle well with those who have a “God is only love” message, but that does not change the fact that what I am saying is true to Scripture.
God is in control. Nothing happens outside of His divine providence.
God determines when and how judgment comes to a nation. God is sovereign over men and nations. He will not overlook sin whether it be personal or national. Consider the following verse.
Psalm 9:17 (ESV) - “The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.”
What does it mean that the “nations that forget God will return to Sheol?” Sheol is the Hebrew word for the place of the dead, the grave, and can even refer to Hell. Does this mean that God will pick up the U.S., or Russia, or China and put the entire nation into Hell? No, of course not. It means that a nation that forgets God and rejects God in its national life, will eventually slip from world power and will eventually go out of existence as we now know it.
Back to our text. Please read the following Scripture closely.
2 Chronicles 7:13 (ESV) – “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people,” (emphasis added)
God is the One to execute judgment on His people. He does so primarily for one reason, and that is to produce repentance leading to righteous behavior. According to the text, there are three primary ways that God sends His judgment upon His people; drought, famine, and pestilence.
Since we are presently dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, I will only comment on the judgment of pestilence. A pestilence is a disease that plagues the people, and will cause great damage to their health, and could take their lives. If you, or someone you know, are suffering from the coronavirus, it does not necessarily mean that you have sinned personally. It does mean that God allowed it for His ultimate purpose of getting glory by bringing about repentance both from individuals, and the nation as a whole.
Think about it. According to Daniel chapter one, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were taken to Babylon as captives to pay for the sins of their people. Yet, there is no evidence that they had personally committed any of the sins that required national judgment. The same is true here. Many people have contracted the coronavirus, and many more will, as it has not peaked yet. However, that does not necessarily mean that they are guilty of sinning against God in such a way as to bring about the national judgment.
National sins precede national judgment. Since we, as a nation, are guilty of national sins, even though as an individual you may not be, God is sending judgment upon this nation as a whole. However, there is hope. Hope is found in the next verse that we have been dealing with. Read it carefully.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV) - “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (emphasis added)
Pray! Prayer is the hope. I will deal with 2 Chronicles 7:14 in the next blog. Stay tuned….