When the world undergoes a cataclysmic event like the COVID-19 pandemic, could God be speaking to us through the affliction? I don’t pretend to have inside information about the divine mind, but as we read the Bible, a pattern emerges in what God says to humanity in times of calamity. I believe the same message remains valid today.
“Trust me.” Every crisis brings our fears to the surface. God understands this mechanism, which is why the Bible repeatedly tells us, “Fear not.” It’s certainly easier said than done, but the key to not being afraid is knowing why: God is trustworthy. Throughout the Bible, the Lord calls us to believe him, to trust him, to have confidence that he is with us no matter the circumstances. He longs for us to hold on to the fact that we can trust him even when we’re afraid.
Critical situations are always a test of faith. When we read the Psalms, it seems that David and the other psalmists faced one disaster after another. They wrestled with doubts, fears, and anger. Yet at the end of the day, they always recognized God’s faithfulness and trusted him.
“Repent.” There is nothing like a crisis to invite us to take stock of our lives. God’s call to repentance isn’t meant to be mean or controlling. He desires to save us from the consequences of our sin. What exactly is repentance? It means agreeing with God that something is wrong and deciding to stop doing it. In other words, it’s turning away from sin and toward the Lord.
Under the Mosaic Law in the Old Testament, Israel’s disobedience was sometimes directly linked to God’s punishment in the form of plagues, famines, or wars. But Christ changed that by taking God’s wrath upon himself when he died on the cross. We can’t assume that every calamity is the result of God’s judgment because of a particular sin. When Jesus was asked about the tragic deaths of several Galileans, he denied that their demise was a punishment from God. However, he added, “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (1) He wanted to remind his listeners that they would someday face their Creator and that they had better be ready.
If you’re like me, a long-term believer, it’s tempting to compare ourselves to “sinners” and consequently let this message bounce off of us. But we would be wise to remember that God was often addressing his people. Last I checked, no one is perfect, and every one of us has a reason to repent.
“Draw near to me.” God created us to have a relationship with him marked by love and joy. Tragically, this bond was broken when humanity believed Satan’s lies and disobeyed the Lord. Fortunately for us, God’s desire for fellowship has never waned, and he uses every opportunity, especially times of crisis, to call us to turn to him and draw close.
No matter where we stand with our Creator, we can always draw nearer. If we are far from God and running in the opposite direction, he loves us anyway and beckons us to take a step toward him. If we have been walking with God for years, he warns us against falling into a routine or growing complacent. The Lord uses difficulties to encourage us to enter into deeper intimacy with him.
“Prepare for eternity.” Every single one of us will leave this world someday (either by death or by Jesus’ return, whichever comes first), but we tend to push this truth to the far recesses of our minds. When a calamity strikes, we come face-to-face with our mortality. God wants us to be ready for the moment we enter eternity.
How can we be prepared? Jesus promises eternal life to anyone who believes in him as Savior, which means repenting of their sin and following him.
God is always communicating with the human race, yet countless worldly voices clamor to drown out his words. Times of distress can help us tune out the noise and redirect our ears toward him.
Are we listening?
(1) Luke 13:2-5
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Thank you, Carol, for reminding us that “no mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.” And thank you also for calling us to what God requires of us, “faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the
diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption” (WSC 82, 85). I believe that God is calling His people through this pandemic to meekness, to walk humbly before and with Him. I see that humility in you, which always makes me glad that He brought you into my life.