~ ~ ~
Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay. ~ ~ ~ 2 CHRONICLES 7:13-14 ~ ~ ~ If you've been in church long enough, you're probably familiar with today's Scripture. It has shown up a lot on my social media feeds ever since the coronavirus pandemic started, and I feel the Lord has a message for us within these words. The question has been raised many times whether or not this virus is God's plan or Satan's attack, and hopefully this blog post will address this concern. It can be looked at from both angles if you think about it closely. God's permissive will allows Satan to attack us; look at Job 1-2. Job teaches that, although God allows it, there is still a limit on how much harm the devil can do to us. Let's take a look at the two plans individually. GOD'S PLAN? OR IS IT GOD'S WRATH? The past few weeks have really shown the true colors of those who claim the name of Christ. Some say that it is God's plan because of the above verse in 2 Chronicles. When we stray away from God, often He allows things to come upon us to draw us back to Him. Scoffers of the Christian faith would have us to believe that God is cruel and unjust for doing that, but they forget that God is our Father as well; He disciplines His children just as an earthly father would with his own. Others have said that it is God's wrath on unbelievers and Christians who have turned away from Him. Either way, we as believers have to trust God that He knows what He is doing and that He has always been in control. SATAN'S WEAPON Still others suggest that the coronavirus is Satan's way of dispelling God's influence on the world. Satan has always been on the move but God ultimately has the say-so (remember Job). Christians themselves blame Satan and the government because of the very fact that churches and houses of worship are being shut down. What they fail to realize is that 1) God commands us to obey the laws of the land and 2) submit to authority. He will deal with the wrongdoers in His own time. Regardless of how you believe, we must always trust God. Never, ever let the devil get a foothold or you will set yourself up for anxiety and disaster. Remember that God is Jehovah-Jireh, the God who heals. If we simply let go of the worldly things and turn to Him, He WILL intervene one way or another. May God keep you safe and healthy, and I hope that you are well!
0 Comments
Above image courtesy of the volunteer photographers for Pixabay.
~ ~ ~ SCRIPTURE REFERENCE - LUKE 20:38; LUKE 24:5 ~ ~ ~ This past week, Christians all around the world celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sadly, the same Christians spend the rest of the year as though the Lord is dead; they spend the rest of the year thinking that His power is dead. Fortunately, those of us who take the Bible seriously have quite a promise to look forward to. Twice in the book of Luke, the writer emphasizes that Jesus is alive. He is the God of the LIVING. 1) The book of Revelation doesn't sugarcoat the fact that the Lord doesn't want a dead church. He works with those who He makes alive through His Spirit. 2) The writer of the book of Luke suggests that many people, including Christians, are searching for Jesus in dead places. He's not in the drug house. He's not in the bar. He's certainly not among unbelieving friends. Search for Him in the Bible-believing churches and Bible-believing Christians. The Resurrection wasn't meant for us to sit around and mourn the life we once knew. It was meant to stir us to a new life and a new way. Ask the Lord to revive your heart and begin a fresh life. |
Archives
August 2020
Categories |