3 Things to Remember While Combatting the COVID Crisis
You can’t escape it.
Log onto Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, the news, Google, even a weather app—and it doesn’t take long to be bombarded by different takes on what is going on in our world. Even a simple “Hey, how are you?” is usually met with a response as to how COVID is affecting our immediate present-day lives.
I have received so many texts, FB messages, Instagram DM, and other messages concerning the wearing of masks, whether to get vaccinated and other possible government conspiracies that are ruminating around our culture as fast as the virus seemingly spread—trying to figure out what information is trust worthy, what is real, what is fake, and what should I say to those around me who ask me what do I think?
I love the new feature on Instagram called “Reels” where people make entertaining videos that can often include some funny prank videos. One trend I have seen lately in these Reels is people who have a mask on, but it looks like a person's face without a mask, or the mask is below the chin. They walk into grocery stores, gas stations, or any other public place in order to encourage the inevitable explosion of anger and disgust from management.
As I watch these videos, I am concerned over the anger I witnessed directed at those without masks. I also was alarmed for those involved in baiting this type of physical and emotional reaction from those who are genuinely concerned and scared during this time. I began to recall some of the Facebook articles Christians have been sending me about the “last days” and the mark of the beast.
A theme started to emerge in my mind about why Christians are acting this way, a failure to understand who God is.
As Christians, there are three things we need to keep in mind as we combat the emotional crisis that COVID has brought.
1. Remember Who God Is
Combating the COVID crisis is a play on words because, as Christians, I do not believe it is our job to combat this social and medical crisis plaguing the world. Why? Because of I am firmly aware of who God is.
There are many attributes about God, but I believe the starting point for all of them can be boiled down to these two attributes:
1) God’s sovereignty
2) God’s providence
The sovereignty of God is understood as God answers to no one.
“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases,” the Psalmist says in Psalms 115:3.
God is the ultimate authority and has the final say on every shifting piece of this life.
Paul reminds in Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
The providence of God means that God is personally interacting in the universe.
He cares, directs, orchestrates, and governs all things.
Psalms 103:19 says, “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules overall.” So that means from nature to time to government to the very existence of our daily lives—God has set His direct control over everything on earth. Matthew 5:45 says, “For He makes the sunrise on the evil and the good, sends rain on the just and the unjust.” This is the common grace God extends to all of His creation.
These two attributes are critical to understanding because when you can fully grasp and understanding truly what this means, you can see the world and the events in light of God. God’s sovereignty provides us with the understanding of how and where anything takes effect, and providence tells us that God is in direct control over everything that is unfolding within His creation.
God is holy, He is perfect, He is eternal, He is immutable, He is just, and He extends mercy on whom He wills. Since this is true, it follows logically that everything we see happening around us is because He is in control of it and allows it.
Christian, what we are facing in this world is not taking God by surprise, nor is He wondering how any of this will turn out.
He knew this would happen, and He knows what is going to come to pass.
The question is, are you ok with accepting this?
2. Remember Why You Are Here
I find myself flying quite often to different parts of the world, and one thing that my mind still has a problem with grasping—how can this sizable heavy metal object take off? Yes, I know I can understand this from physics and come to a relative knowledge of how this takes place, but I think we who fly often enough do not pay this phenomenon too much thought.
Curiously enough, when we board the plane, we don’t often question if we make it to our final destination, but rather how long will the flight take or if we experience a few bits of turbulence in the sky. I trust in a pilot that I have never met, an airplane I have never personally inspected, and a flight path that I didn’t plan, and most of us are ok with that. Why? Because our experience and reason have taught us that if we sit back and enjoy the flight, it is much more enjoyable than stressing and worrying about all the items mentioned above I listed.
How many of us have this kind of trust in God as we watch the events and problems we see arising in the world?
God is so much more powerful than anything we can fully grasp, yet we can come to a relatively reasonable understanding of who He is, and our experience can teach us to trust in Him.
Christian, you know that this earth is not your home; you know that this is merely a layover until we reach our final eternal destination. We are merely travelers, but we are, as Isaiah 49:16 states, “held in the palm of His hand.”
So, why do we act as if this life on earth is all that there is?
When I accept that God is sovereign and providential over everything that I face in life, including this COVID pandemic, I can more fully understand my temporary position here on earth and how I am called to respond.
3. Remember What the World Needs
Being a sojourner here on earth should not stop me from staying on a mission to spread the message of Jesus and His atoning work on the cross. We must spread love in a rapidly changing society. Knowing we are temporarily stationed here on earth to share the gospel compels us to more urgently spread the good news to those who go without hope.
As the world around us tailspins into a panic, Christians need to be the beacon of light and hope that others turn to for the comfort that only a relationship with Christ can provide.
Rather than applying a filter to our Instagram images, we need to filter our online words and actions with the truth of the gospel.
So, it begs to ask…Is what you are saying or thinking reasonable in understanding God’s sovereignty and providence?
What you say, do, post, and spread around must be filtered through this lens. If it doesn’t fall in line, then don’t post or say what you were planning on doing because the testimony we as believers can have right now is fertile soil for the gospel message.
The chaos of the world offers a blank slate for the testimony that we can demonstrate!
Christian, amidst this global upheaval, remember Who is Sovereign, live your life as if you were in the presence of God, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the calling, and share the love of Christ with others.