The world would have us believe that we are dealing with an entirely new set of (medical) problems in overcoming this latest, potentially deadly attack on mankind. Day in and day out, we are bombarded by hourly, and even half-hourly news, of how this virus is wreaking havoc in our midst. This is the reality we see with our eyes around us. This seems to be the consensus by the majority of this present situation.
For the spiritually discerning and may I add, born-again believer, this is just one aspect of the present situation. Repeatedly, we are clearly instructed in the Scriptures that “we walk not by sight but by faith” (2 Cor. 5:7). Yes, we acknowledge the visible reality, but what guides our thinking and our walk is not the seen but the unseen spiritual truth. What does that mean in regards to our present situation, dealing with COVID-19?
When Jesus Christ walked the earth, He had several purposes in doing so.
*The first and foremost, was to die on our behalf, to save those who would believe in Him from eternal damnation, and so restore our broken relationship with God. For sin had put an irreparable separation between man and God. Mankind could never again walk with God, as did Adam in the Garden of Eden, except by accepting Christ’s gift of salvation. The Scriptures clearly show that “no other name has been given by which man must be saved” (Acts 4:12), for those who would argue, like I once would, “that all roads lead to Rome”.
*Another purpose, additional to a wealth of recorded statements made by God through His prophets (the Old Testament), was to show us who the Father is, His character, His works, His wisdom, His dealings with mankind (John 14:6-11). Those who were to teach about these things, at the time of Christ had become bogged down in mere legalities and had added their own petty legalistic rules to God’s original commandments, thus marring an accurate picture of who God was. One of the ways Christ revealed the Father was to heal the sick. Scriptures state that ‘He healed them ALL” (Matt. 15:30).
Those who have ever studied the “names of God”, as revealed mainly in the Old Testament, will have come across the name “Jehovah Rapha”, meaning the LORD our Healer (Exodus 15:26). Jesus perfectly revealed Him while on earth.
Are we dealing with “Ancient History” then, only relevant for those times, when we read the above? In no way, for Scriptures tell us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8) and because He rose from the dead and is alive, He still is our Healer today.
Why then this despair in the world, at present? I would say, because of mankind’s continuous weakness: UNBELIEF! Not only in unbelievers but also in believers, including me! It was the greatest frustration Christ experienced while on earth; his disciples’ frequent lapses into unbelief!
When some asked Christ what the most important thing or work we could do was, His answer was simple and straightforward: (John 6:29) “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” Hebrews 11:1 rings loud and clear through the Scriptures, defining faith’s vital importance for us, for it is “the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for (like healing), the evidence of things not seen (yet)”. For again, “all the promises of God (like healing, comments in brackets mine) are yes and amen, IN CHRIST.” (2 Cor. 1:20) And without faith, we cannot please God (Heb. 11:6).
For those who want to but find it hard to believe, all is not lost. When a man, on meeting Christ, found it hard to believe that he could heal his son, he cried out: “Help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-25). Jesus had compassion on him and his son and healed them both; one of his unbelief and the other of his deafness.
Coronavirus, therefore, may still seem insurmountable at present; to our God, it is just one more way to show us His goodness, mercy and glory – if we believe!