March 21, 2020
In the last 2 weeks the US has hit some pretty difficult times. The COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus) has ushered us right into a pandemic that has taken the lives of over 11,000 people and has infected over 280,000 people worldwide. In the US alone we have shut down sporting events, businesses, schools, and churches. We have recently been ordered to practice social distancing and it appears that we are in the beginning stages of Martial Law being declared across our nation. I have never in my 41 years of life experienced this type of panic and shut down. I share this, not to incite fear but to remind us all of the perilous times that we are living in.
In Matthew 24, Jesus was forecasting the conditions that would precede His Second Coming. He said, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in [different] places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (verses 6-8). I'm not sure if we believe it but Jesus is still COMING BACK!
So what should the believer make of this pandemic? First, we must realize that God loves us and has allowed this pandemic to occur to awaken us from our slumber. People of God we must REPENT! For those of us who name ourselves as Christians, we must recognize that God is shaking us by sounding the alarm. Some of us have erected gods in the form of social media, sports, concerts, and retirement funds just to name a few. There is nothing wrong with these things but they have to come AFTER our relationship with God, never before. Just this week I had 2 co-workers lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in the stock market. One of them can no longer afford to retire because he simply doesn’t have enough money left to do so. He had plans to retire in the winter but now his “source” is no longer viable. We have to return to God and make Him our source and not just our go to whenever times get tough! We must repent!
Secondly, we must return to prayer. The bible declares in 2 Chronicles 7:14, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. We need to be healed and so many of us, the non-believer and believer, are still living our lives for ourselves and not according to how God has commanded us to live. It is in prayer that we are able to communicate with God as well as allow Him to direct us. We must return to prayer, not only for ourselves and our families but for a dying world who is still wandering around lost and oblivious to His return.
Thirdly, we must return back to the Bible. It is the Word of God that gives us clear instructions on how to live. A manufacturer of a product never creates a product without supplying a manual. Every product that I have ever purchased came with clear instructions on how to care for it, what to do if it malfunctions, and how to extend the life of it. Can’t you hear me by the Holy Ghost? God is our Creator and has given us a manual (Bible) and if we would just read it, we can preserve our lives and maximize our time and potential in the earth!
The last thing that I want to share with you is this. As the church (the body of believers that are to preserve the earth) we should be actively sharing our faith. If you had the cure for cancer would you keep it to yourself? The answer is no! Our world is sick and does not know it. We are on the brink of spiritual damnation and are not even aware. Matthew 5:13-16 reads“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. We are here to turn the hearts of the people back to God!
People of God don’t be fearful in this dim hour. God has promised to take care of His children and He does not lie. I believe that this is the hour of the Great Return! Repent, stay in faith, stay prayerful, and full of His love for the lost. Share your faith with others and continue to trust God!
If you have been blessed by this post please share it with someone and encourage them to subscribe to what God is doing through When Women Pray. I love you all, stay healthy and God bless!
Shindy
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