God and COVID-19

As the new found virus terrifies the people of the world while the number of infected rise, Church is shut down. What does this mean for the body of Christ? And how should the Christian respond to such a crisis? In the midst of the chaos, there are many biblical lessons we must learn in order to understand the Christian's role within this pandemic.

1. Evil does not revoke God's sovereignty.

Throughout Scripture we see what we would call the philosophical problem of natural evil. This is evil that is caused not by moral agents, but by things out of our control. For many years theologians and philosophers became stumped by this. For if God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent then why would God not stop such a virus? Continuing this way of thought, we are left with two premises: God is not in control of this virus, therefore He could not stop it. Or God does have control and yet still allows the pandemic, so therefore He cannot be fully "good". May I suggest that God can be both in control and still be fully good? Indeed, He can be.

Genesis 50:20 states, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." (NASB)

The context of this verse is Joseph, son of Jacob, telling his own brothers who sold him for slavery that God used Joseph's situation for the Good of others. Clearly God has sufficient moral reasons to let what we would call "evil" happen. We may not know or come to understand these things given that we are finite creatures, but God is in-finite. Even through the scientific theory of chaos we could apply God's ruling over anything that is to happen.

For example, everything has an order of events. Events (on this earth) are means to an end. Therefore, every event has an ending. Yet even though events can end, they can lead to other events and so on and so forth. God could cause an event to happen for the betterment of a future tense event. Just like Joseph's story.

More so, there is no telling how many events there are theoretically within the universes or cosmos. Multiverse theory is an amazing example of this. Many events take place differently (or could have) and we have no idea what the conclusions are to those events. Yet, God does. Therefore, out of every event, scenario, circumstance, or situation God picked this one for a certain reason.

Job 38:2-7 states,

“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me! Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? -

Tell Me, if you have understanding, who set its measurements? Since you know.

Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (NASB)

If God chose this reality of COVID-19, and He is fully good, then we must understand that God has fully good plans. This is why this needs explanation; because we are in a fallen, painful, and wicked world. Do not be discouraged or dismayed. God is still God. He has never changed even before the beginning of time. And when the Lord places a reality of pain in front of us, such as the apostles in the midst of emperor Nero, we trust in the one who can take chaos and calamity away or use it for the betterment of those who are chosen and loved. Always remember the Goal within the Christian walk:

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

2. Evil should not scare us

Let's talk about the temporal and eternal things of this world. Everything that we have come to know is temporal (temporary): our bodies, materials, money, houses, legacies, and many more. Therefore, do you live in fear of losing such things? We should not live in fear. Not only because we are children of God, but because we possess that which is eternal.

1 Peter 1:3-4 states, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" (NASB)

1 Peter 5:4 states, "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."

When we see this passage in the Greek text, we can see that "will not fade away" comes from the word ἀμάραντος. Which means unfading. But the primary root word is more interesting. And that root word is ἀμαράντινος, meaning: "a flower, so called because it never withers or fades, and when plucked off revives if moistened with water; hence, it is a symbol of perpetuity and immortality." (BLB, Thayer's Greek lexicon, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G262&t=TR)

The point that I am making here is fairly simple, we have nothing to lose. We already have the unfading reward reserved in Heaven for us. What is everything else compared to our reward? Nothing. Dust. So why are we afraid of a virus? Yes, take caution. Yes, be aware. But do not be afraid. For what are you trying to do, save your life? We are to be living sacrifices as Paul states in Romans. Therefore, have courage, Christ has overcome the world!

3. Evil is a means to an end

Lastly, and most importantly, Evil must be understood to be a means to an end.

1 Peter 1:6-9 states,

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls." (NASB)

As we can see, the subject in the quote above is mentioned repeatedly as "you". However, the recipients of Peter's letter were scattered among Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (see 1 Peter 1:1-2). They were Christians that were scattered and in need of encouragement like we are today. The subject (Christians) is in distress, which in this case would be the adjective. The main emphasis I want to point out here is the preposition of "so that." So that what? Why have all of this suffering and pain?

Let's look further at the few things Peter points out as conclusions:

1. Faith

2. Praise

3. Glory

4. Honor

5. Joy

6. Salvation

Look at the list above as a sandwich. With Faith as the top bun and salvation as the bottom bun. Everything in between is simply results of faith. In other words, while in this pandemic, if you have faith then you will praise with glory, honor and inexpressible joy while waiting for the revelation. Thus producing salvation for your souls. You see, in the midst of evil we are working out the very process of salvation. And let us remind each other of this. That there is unspeakable joy within God during times like these.

So, do not worry and do not be afraid. During times like these we can lean on God the most. A fully good and all knowing God. He is refining us for that day. The day that makes our worship sets and studies pale in comparison. Remember that God uses the bad for that of good and we have the reward that does not perish like everything else in this fallen world does. Pray, read, be encouraged!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 states,

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." (NASB)

Peace to you,

Dillon B. Corbett