The Silver Lining Behind COVID-19

It was a nice sunny day and I’d overdosed on COVID-19 news so instead of just one prayer lap around our park, I decided to walk two.

On the last leg of my trek, Jim pulled his bike over beside me, under a shady tree. We chatted for a while about nothing and everything. Then the topic turned to what’s been filling the news. I spilled my take on the shape the world is in; part of which was my dismay at the division and hostility witnessed during the daily coronavirus press briefings. “I hate politics” was one of the last things I said.

Jim was still straddling his bike. He looked me in the eye, pulled in a slow deep breath and leaned back pulling on the handlebars, he looked up toward heaven and then back at me. “I voted democrat for many years.”

Oh boy, here comes the Trump is an idiot speech. I just looked at Jim and made a small nod and a smaller smile.

He said, “I even ran for council as a democrat, and won.”

Oh boy, oh boy…maybe I shouldn’t have taken that second lap.

“I never left the democratic party…”

He went on to talk about his life and times in politics. I was thinking, I really like Jim. Respect Jim. I even asked him to lead one of the last Bible Studies—but they were canceled due to the invisible enemy. I never would’ve imagined this about him. Maybe I shouldn’t have said some of the things I did.

Jim crossed his arms and looked at the ground, “Nope, I never left the democratic party.” He shook his head. “They left me.”

My nod was probably a bit too large.

He looked at me and smiled. “I hate politics, too.” His smile was replaced with the face of intense resolve. “That’s why I joined it…to change it.”

What a powerful statement. If only good God fearing folks would think like that. Instead of walking around on tip-toes, smiling and acting like the world is sugar and spice and everything nice.

Heroes and history makers come from folks like Jim who charge when they see red rather than waving a white flag.    

Friends, this ain’t granddads politics no more.

Today’s politicians aren’t satisfied with just voting themselves into way too much money for the rest of their lives, even after they leave office. There’s a deep-seated power, compelling unscrupulous souls beyond their own selfish lusts and pleasures into our neighborhoods, churches, schools and homes…desiring to steal our very souls.

How’s the saying go? Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Dear brothers and sisters, the battle has entered our backdoor. The invisible enemy that’s killing, stealing, destroying…isn’t COVID-19.

God nailed the cause and the cure in one breath when He saw the symptom on Cain’s face: Sin lies at the door and desires to have you; but you must overcome it (Genesis 4:7).

We’ve all sinned. Continue to.

NO that’s not okay.

Just because you fall in the mud, doesn’t mean you should wallow in it; like, a dog returns to his vomit, and, a sow to her wallowing in the mire.  (2 Peter 2:22)

Picture COVID-19 as sin spreading across the globe, seeking whom it may devour. Think of how you’ve hunkered down, washed your hands, cleaned your place…for the sake of avoiding the virus.

Friends, sin is a virus that desires to devour us. A cancer that won’t stay put, but eats away, more and more, ravenously rotting and devouring the soul.  

The only way to turn from sin is to turn to God. His way. Through Jesus. Period.  

Those who say, “me and God, have it all worked out” and then, continue to sin, or stand on the side of those who do…are deceived. They are prideful, selfish, greedy declaring themselves above God; making their own rules. Just as lucifer declared he would raise his throne above the Almighty.

The church is called the bride of Christ. Being a Christian is compared to being married to Christ. You cannot court sin and be married to God. That’s adultery. That's sin. That's grounds for the Groom to say..."Depart from Me, I never knew you."

Friends, make no mistake, God did not send COVID-19, no more than He told Joseph’s brothers to throw him in a pit, sell him to slavery, Potiphar’s wife to seduce him…but, He did take what was meant for evil and turned it around for good.

This is an amazing time. The events of the day are depicting in living color what God has been saying since the beginning.

Pelosi divided the State of the Union. Jesus said, a house divided cannot stand. COVID-19 has the whole world screaming, "Wash your hands." In Bible language that means, repent, turn from sin.

It’s no longer politics as usual. It’s not only right vs left. It's come down to right vs wrong…good vs evil.

Yet, Jesus prayed for us in John 17, that we’d be one, with Him. His prayer will not go unanswered. The time has come that sitting on the sidelines is not an option.  A choice must be made.

This fiery trial is no surprise to those watching and praying. 

For everyone else, it should be an alarm to wake-up, clean up, pray up and help others get ready to be caught up, as His glorious bride without spot or wrinkle.

RAPTURE (Latin, Rapturo; Greek, Harpazo; English, Caught Up)

It will happen. Just as sure as you're reading this. But not for everyone.

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump…" (1 Corinthians 15:52)

Could this worldwide pause be a moment to prepare, preprayer, for forever?

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

It's not His will that any should perish...but, alas, even still, many will.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)