So Much More Than ‘Just A Virus’
From the Black Death plague in the mid-1300s to the Ebola and SARS pandemic in the early 2000s, the Earth is no stranger to viral and bacterial attacks. Tiny microbes that cannot be seen with the naked eye has run ramped for centuries infecting and killing many of its victims. The reoccurring events of the past show us that we may never be totally safe from these deadly infections. So, this raises the question, ‘Why haven’t we learned our lesson yet?’
The global interconnectedness of our world today allows for people…and viruses to cross continents in a single day. This presents the challenge of disease control and prevention when a single outbreak has no boundaries or borders. COVID-19 (coronavirus) is just the latest of a long series of pandemics that originated through infections transferring from animals to humans. Therefore, if we learn from the patterns of the past, we will better understand the current crisis and be more prepared for the future.
Currently in the United States, we are living in the realities of what happens when people fail to prepare. There are not enough testing kits available, meaning that there is not an accurate number of infected individuals. All of the stores are empty and even worse, we see in the media how fear can be as much of a problem as the disease itself.
However, despite all of facts that elicit concern, this mass shut down of the world is about so much more than just a virus. Nothing has ever happened on Earth that wasn’t first prophesied in the Bible. God is calling everyone of every nation to focus back on Him; to trust and believe in Him. Our battle is with COVID-19 today; however, there will be another enemy tomorrow. This fallen world may never know peace, but you can know the Prince of Peace, Jesus. The sky can be falling down all around you, but if you make God your anchor, you will find stability and strength in an unstable world.
The future concern is not if another pandemic will arise, but when. With every new disease and infection, we as a nation will be tested on our ability to prepare and respond to such attacks. As we increase our interactions with animals through domestication, hunting, wet markets, etc. we will constantly be at risk for cross species disease transmission. However, we can learn from past pandemics that withholding information, distorting facts, and downplaying the threat will always make matters worse. Our best defense is improved global communication and planning that will lead to a better understanding of transmission, improved sanitation, vaccines, and eventually antibiotics to treat threats.
The Earth is crying out for her savior, and if you become distracted by the panicked noise all around, you may miss the signs. God is certainly not surprised by the breakdown of this world, and you should not be either. When we combine wisdom and faith, we learn tactics to survive without living in fear.
Psalm 91:9-11 – ‘If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go.’
2 Chronicles 7:14 – ‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’
