The Coronavirus which originated in China has spread to Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Italy, UK, the USA, and other countries. This virus is really a family of viruses that includes Sars and CV-19. The death toll in China is in the thousands, and concerns about the mutability of this plague is causing mass pandemonium, with some alarmists claiming tens of millions will die and everywhere from Hong Kong to New York City will be quarantined, and put on Lockdown (Martial Law). Others (including one UK expert) are taking the more conservative view that this virus is really is only a life threatening disease to elderly people, and those with preexisting conditions like lung disease, cancer, heart disease, and other auto immune weaknesses. Trying to find the truth about how dangerous this virus is and whither we should stock up on Ramen Noodles, Water, and etc is confusing. I suggest we take this outbreak seriously, do the moderate level response; wash hands, keep taking vitamins, stay rested, have a few weeks of water and food but don’t go Y2k and spend your life savings or panic. Above all pray.
If the Coronavirus does become aggressive and death rates rise, we as Christians need to be ready to respond. It is in the middle of pandemics such as these, when the fear of death is looming that we can offer the true comfort of the gospel, that Jesus Christ has tasted death for us who believe, “because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9 NLT). We need to be ready to answer for our peace and calmness by telling people the truth, that in Christ there is no death but life, “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”” (John 11:25-26). Our world when all seems well falls into a spiritual apathy, but when plagues come like the Coronavirus appear, what happens when I die become relevant again to most agnostics and unbelievers. We need to be ready to share the Blessed Hope with frightened people.
For us Christians, the reality is apparent to us, that we cannot die unless Christ beckons us home, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades,” (Revelation 1:18), and “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had (past tense, no longer has) the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” (Hebrews 2:14-15 NLT). Our confidence is in Christ our Savior, and we adopt Paul’s mentality, “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21). This allows us as Kipling said, “to keep your head, when everyone else is losing theirs.” This time of hysteria and uncertainty is when we need to be preaching the certainty of salvation in Christ and an end to the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). As we monitor this pandemic, let us also preach the Message of Christ, who is Life (John 14:6, John 1:3), and controls death (Revelation 1:18). This is a time for revival, and wake up calls, as C.S. Lewis said “pain is a megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Use that megaphone for our Messiah, to let Him reach those headed for the Second Death (Revelation 20:10, 15), and who live as dead (spiritually) in this life. Pray for people to know Christ (John 17:3) and that they may join our family of faith and cast all their fears on Him (1 Peter 5:7).
Some final thoughts on death in the wake of Coronavirus fears. Death has no sting for us who believe in Christ, “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). We Christians live to share the gospel (fruitful labor) -and to share God’s love, “But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body..” (Philippians 1:23-24). If we die we are with Christ who is the author of life (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-18), so actually we leave this life (death) to be in eternal life. There is no second chances to believe, we have one life! There is no reincarnation, “And just as it is appointed for people to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28). I urge you to make make the Lord Jesus Christ your God and Savior, pray the following (eyes open is fine):
“Jesus Christ, God of God and Som of God, I repent of my sins, I recognize I cannot be good enough to enter heaven, I declare and confess you Jesus as Lord and God, I believe you were crucified for all my sins on the cross and rose from the dead but power of God, that you are One with God the Father and Holy Spirit, One God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity, and I commit to believe and trust in you all the days of my life, I love you Lord, thanks be to you and your grace, Amen.”
Now get a Holy Bible, I recommend NLT (New Living Translation), ESV (English Standard Version), or the 2019-2020 NIV (New International Version). Read the following order of New Testament books: The Gospel of John (after Luke), then read 1 John (letter), Colossians, Galatians, Romans, Philippians, Titus, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Jude, and Hebrews. I recommend this order to bolster your faith and to make your mind and heart and spirit sound in the Gospel of Grace through Faith in Jesus. Then when your a little more mature, you should read and discern 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 2 John (letter), 3 John (letter), 1 and 2 Peter, 1 and 2 Timothy, Philemon, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Matthew, and Revelation.
After you read the first list of New Testament Books: John to Hebrews, I recommend you get Baptized in the Holy Spirit, “While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongue and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.” (Acts 19:1-7). Ask the Holy Spirit of the Trinity to come and give you His gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1 Corinthians 15). I recommend asking for the Discerning of Spirits to help you with the Bible test the spirits of teachers and prophets (1 John 4:1). You can ask for Tongues, Healing, and etc too. Then find Christians to meet with. I recommend House Churches and Bible Studies, but if you go to established church service (denomination, church building), make sure its:
- Trinitarian, believes God is One God in the Three persons of Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit.
- Confesses Jesus is Lord and God and salvation is only by His grace (Acts 15:11) and through faith in Him (Philippians 3:9).
- Sola Scriptura, this means holds to The New Testament as the authority for how to be saved, Christian life, doctrine, and tradition.
- Allows you to ask questions, for Jesus taught His disciples to ask questions (Matthew 16:13-20).
- Avoid churches with domineering and cultic pastors and leaders who act as if they are superior and infallible spiritually. We are all equal in Christ (Galatians 3:28) and you became a priest when you first prayed the above prayer (1 Peter 2:9).
- Beware of Duo-Covenant theologians and pastors who teach Jews can be saved by the law (Acts 15:2 mentions these evil doers, Peter corrects them in Acts 15:4-11) or churches that add to the Blood of Jesus and think they can merit heaven through works (see Ephesians 2:4-11, Hebrews 8 and 9).
- Stay away from counterfeit Christianities which are the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church (Greek Orthodoxy, Russian Orthodoxy) , Jehovah Witnesses, Church of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), Chrislam, Church of Christ, Methodist, Nestorian, Gnosticism, New Age, Monasticism, Messianic Judaism, and those who refuse the Truth in the New Testament, Holy Bible.
I also recommend anytime after you prayed the prayer of salvation earlier in this post, that you be baptized in water; this is easier if a pastor helps you simply go under water briefly and then come to the surface; its a sign of your confirmation of your faith in Jesus and its best to have witnesses (“confess Jesus as Lord..” Romans 10:9). But you can if necessary self baptize yourself; just be safe and make sure you are in shallow waters with no current. You can simply take a bottle of water or cup or palm branch and drip water on your forehead.
May the God of Peace, Our Lord Jesus Christ protect you and guide you. Amen.
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