The Coronavirus and Faith

By Jeremiah Z

May 1, 2020

As I'm writing this, we are experiencing  world-wide panic regarding the Coronavirus. Some think it is blown way out of proportion (and it may be), while others are panicking and stocking up on  aspirin, food, and enough household goods to last for several months.

What will the future bring? At this point, we can only watch and see. What we do know is that around 300,000 people have been infected, more than 10,000 have died, schools, churches, and many public places have been closed down, some store items are hard to find, many people are off work, and the stock market is falling fast. If this continues, things will certainly become interesting.

Some Facts About the  Coronavirus

The Coronavirus (the exact strain of the virus is called COVID-19) likely originated in the country of China, although that hasn’t been 100% confirmed at this point. The virus mutated (changed) and spread from animals to humans, even though it wasn't something humans could get sick from before. COVID-19 is thought to have first infected humans in an open market in the city of Wuhan, China. After it spread throughout China, it was carried by humans to other countries around the world, including the United States. 

The Coronavirus is not that different from the flu, yet there are several things that make it different enough that some people are concerned:

• This virus originated from animals, likely from bats or perhaps pangolins (a type of scaly anteater).
• At this time, there is no known medical treatment for the virus.
• The virus has been mutating (changing) and as it changes, it is getting worse, which makes it more dangerous than other viruses, simply because we don’t know how it will change next.
• This virus is spreading around the world very fast, and the fear is that if it isn’t stopped, it will infect millions and millions of people.

Other Similar Epidemics from the Past

The following is just a short list, but it is enough to show that this is not the first time that a strain of the flu has killed large numbers of people.

• In 2009, between 151,700 and 575,400 people died worldwide from the pandemic H1N1/09 virus.
• In 1968, 1,000,000 died worldwide from Influenza A H3N2.
• In 1957 – 1958, 2,000,000 died from Influenza A H2N2, worldwide.
• In 1918 – 1920, around 100,000,000 died from Influenza A H1N1, worldwide.

One thing that becomes clear from this list is that in the past, more people died from these viruses than they do now. Of course, this is a partial list, and each virus strain acts differently. It certainly is no guarantee of what may happen in the future. Yet, a logical conclusion is that as medicine further developed with time and governments learned to react faster, it helped to minimize the spreading of the viruses.

Getting Past the Facts, the Unknowns, and the Fears

There is so much information available that it is overwhelming. Who is right, and who is wrong? Is the government trying to scare us on purpose? Should we obey the new "social distancing" laws or not? And should Christians even worry about things like this at all? It’s easy to become afraid of things that we don’t understand, and scripture makes it clear that we should not be anxious, but to take everything to the Lord in prayer.

Also, through all of this, Christians should be an example to others by respecting their government leaders. The following verse makes it clear that God put these people in control, and as such, God is also in control of their decisions. Even the government leaders themselves often do not realize this, but it's true, and it's why we should pray for them.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” (Romans 13:1-2)

Several things are clear to me:

• We should respect and obey the government as long as it doesn't compromise our faith.
• We must not be anxious.
• We shouldn't complain.
• We must pray, not only that we won't get sick ourselves, but also for our government and for those who are afraid – we should pray that people everywhere will put their trust in the Lord.

Prayer

Sometimes we know something but it's not truly real to us. We may know something, but not actually do something. For example, we may know that there is food in the refrigerator, but as long as we don't open the door to get the food, we won't be able to eat it. It doesn't help knowing that food is in the refrigerator, we actually have to get it out and eat it in order to enjoy the benefits.

Similarly, we know that God answers prayer, but yet we often don't pray with faith. Even after God has answered many prayers for me, I still sometimes doubt. Yet, God has answered many prayers when I truly, humbly, and wholeheartedly bring my requests to Him. Just one example: I have allergies and asthma, and often haven't been able to lie in bed at night because my nose and throat would start closing off so much that I'd have a hard time breathing. But after having others pray for me, the Lord would heal me so much that I could stop taking medications for a while. Why I didn’t remain healed is unclear to me, but I suspect it was so that I’d have to humble myself, pray, and have others pray for me, time and again. We are often too proud to obey the commandment to pray. Pride is so sneaky, but I confess that is often what keeps me from truly praying.

“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” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Has the Lord answered every one of my prayers? No, and I suspect sometimes that has been because of my own lack of faith and prayer, and sometimes also because He had something bigger in mind than what I wanted.

What I do know is that we’re told in the Bible to pray much. We’re told to pray with faith, and we’re told to pray for others, including our government and nations.

Is God in Control of the Coronavirus?

It is so easy to blame people for problems, and sometimes we are indeed the cause of our problems. But scripture makes it clear that God allows things to happen to us to test our faith and loyalty to Him. God has bigger things in mind than our day-to-day comfort, and the reality is that if things sail along smoothly, it doesn't take very long, even for Christians, to forget to look for God for help.

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7).

“There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand” (Proverbs 19:21).

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:3).

James 1:3 is especially helpful, because it shows us that what is really happening is that our "faith is being tried," or tested. That is how God knows if we'll stay true to Him or not. What He really wants is for all people, from every background and of every color, to turn to Him in repentance and faith.

Will God Take Care of Us Financially?

We don’t know yet how much the Coronavirus problem is going to cost us personally and as a country. Right now, with so many people out of work and businesses impacted as they are, it appears that the cost may be fairly significant. But, scripture makes it clear that God is in control of our finances, and we can truly depend on Him for everything we need.

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32).

Looking at This as an Opportunity to Serve the Lord

So many people are scared right now. This is an opportunity for the body of Christ to work together, to be a light to our communities, and to point people to Christ. Stand strong in faith, my friend, and do not be afraid to speak to others about Christ. He is the one we must lean on, and people are now more willing to hear than before. The words that come out of our mouth can be words of complaining and blaming. Or, the words that come out of our mouth could be a public demonstration of faith, of prayer, and of pointing others towards Jesus Christ, the Savior and Sustainer of the world.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).                           

— Jeremiah Z

 

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