June 2020
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
We are now in month three +/- of the coronavirus pandemic, and believe me, there is absolutely nothing “normal” about living through this plague.
Now, I take that back, there is something normal — the information that we are receiving through the media from governments and NGO’s is in constant flux. The experts seem not to be in agreement with the research and a plethora of pharmaceutical manufacturers, universities, the military, and individuals around the world are scurrying to develop a “cure” for the virus. Just who will hold the patent for the miracle drug is the big question. Someone will make a killing! Okay, enough of the snarky comments...
In the midst of our plight, maintaining a positive attitude is truly a challenge. The doom and gloom with which we are bombarded daily by the media takes a toll. The first thing that I want to hear in the morning is not how many people have died to date of COVID-19. The specter of death seems to loom around every corner and behind every door … news, sports, and weather … local, state, national, and international … COVID-19 doom and gloom. Supposed expert after expert predicts that this pandemic may go on and on, more people will die, there may be wave after wave of the virus spreading. Shelter in place, isolate from other people, maintain social distancing, wear face coverings, wash hands frequently, do not touch another person or even be with parents, children, grandchildren, relatives or friends. Moreover, we are to accept this way of “living” as normal.
The experts give little or no hope for the future. Governments employ despotic methods to enforce mandates limiting people’s activities, while substance abuse, domestic abuse, child abuse, depression, anger, and tempers rise. People are protesting in the streets … Lord save us!
Yes, Lord save us from each other and ourselves, from our sinful selves. Yes Lord, You are the only One who can save us, not the pharmaceutical companies, the scientists, the government, the military, the experts, and certainly not the politicians. All that they can do is subject us to more dire consequences of human arrogance — sin is sin.
Lord, our only hope for the future is in You!
Psalm 33:
Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
For the word of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; He puts the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him! For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.
The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!
The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by His great army; a warrior is not delivered by His great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love, that He may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
The healing of the people and our nation is in the hands of God; therefore, we must remember His words as recorded in Second Chronicles, Chapter Seven: “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, 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.” (vv. 13–14 ESV) Yes Lord, our only hope is in You to bring us through this pandemic, to bring healing to our land.
Now, may we, the Church, the Body of Christ remain faithful in these times of trial and continue to pray fervently, in true humility to God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to bring an end to the suffering which this virus has caused throughout the world.
I close with Psalm 46:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come, behold the works of the Lord, how He has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
In Christ’s service,
Pastor David