The world continues its battle to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which now has likely impacted, either directly or indirectly, nearly every person on Earth. This is far more than just a health crisis—this is a human crisis. Its fearful wake will only be bested by the bravery, perseverance, and hope of a determined world. It is more than just a dangerous illness; it is a test of our resolve.
Resolve requires more than just the courage to stare down the unknown—it is the commitment to overcome it. It all starts with the heroism of the first responders, health care providers saving lives and scientists working tirelessly to find a cure. It shines on the truck drivers and market workers restocking empty store shelves at the markets. It’s a reflection to think of why we do what we do and how we can make a difference in someone life less fortunate than ours.
There are more negative storylines yet to be told in this pandemic as new cases continue to grow in the United States, concern remains elevated, and market volatility reigns. Every day, we are inundated with more and more cancellations—everything from shuttered workplaces to closed schools, cancelled graduations, and restricted public gatherings. But, optimism for the near-term future has not been cancelled. Neither has hope. And, neither has the will to help others in a time of crisis. Our future is not cancelled—it has been ignited with our resolve.
April 23rd, 2020
Hawaii
United States
Worldwide
Last year in December 2018, the coronavirus was found in the city of Wuhan in China. Some speculate that the origin of the virus came from a seafood market, or possibly by an animal such as a bat or pangolin. In mid-February there were about 15 confirmed cases in US, and by March 1st around 80,000 cases in China. On March 9th there were a total of 101.8k confirmed cases. On March 11th, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic.
As
I write this on March 29th, 723,328 cases are confirmed (143,025
cases in US), there have been 34,005 total deaths (Italy 10,779, US 2,509,
Spain 6,803), and 151,809 have recovered. Currently there are 175 confirmed cases in Hawaii. Some symptoms include, cough, fever
and shortness of breath. The incubation period averages around 5 days. There is
still a lot about the virus that is unknown. It’s uncertain how contagious and
deadly this aggressive virus really is. But it is obvious that this is a very
serious virus that spreads quickly. Treatment and vaccines are still being clinically
tested and researched. Another name for the virus is severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 or (SARS-CoV-2). About 80% of the population infected
with the virus will recover without any specialized treatment. Being a new
virus factors into why our immune system doesn’t have antibodies already to
defend against it.
The
R naught of COVID-19 is estimated around 1.95 -2.2, meaning that approximately
2 people will catch the virus from every person who already has it. The
seasonal flu has an R naught of 1.3 and infects around 49 million Americans a
year, killing between 290,000 = 650,000 people globally in a year. The
mortality rate of the seasonal flu is 0.1% while the Coronavirus is estimated around
4.5% meaning it is potentially 45 times more deadly.
According
to a CDC journal, the worst pandemic on record was the Spanish flu of 1918
which killed between 50-100 million people across the world and killed around
675,000 Americans. The Spanish flu had a mortality rate of 2.5%, and if the
Coronavirus continues to increase in its mortality rate it could become twice
as deadly than the 1918 Spanish flu.
The
virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule covered by a protective
layer of lipid fat. The virus is very fragile. Soap foam, alcohol and heat
above 25 degrees Celsius help to break down the outer layer of fat which makes
the protein molecule break down and disperse. The virus molecules can remain
very stable in the cold, moisture and darkness. Social distancing and washing
your hands are the best ways to protect yourself from catching the virus.
I
can see why many are filled with fear, worry and anxiety in regards to
COVID-19. Besides the virus itself there have been huge ripple effects.
Businesses have had to close down resulting in the loss of jobs. There has been
a huge decrease in the economy, stock market and travel. Our nation is
currently in at least a 14 day quarantine. Many hospitals don’t have enough
ventilators to help patients who are in severe conditions.
Do not Fear, God is in control
In
a situation where there is chaos, suffering and uncertainty, God remains
completely sovereign, just and in control. There is a passage in Matthew
6:25-34 that talks about how God ultimately cares for us. It’s easy to get
concerned about all the possible what if’s that could happen. And I think
that’s where fear starts to creep in. Even if we were to all die tomorrow, God
would still be perfectly sovereign, supreme, holy, just and good. Everything
really boils down to trusting in our Lord and Savior. Some churches and leaders
have made wild claims that they don’t need to practice social distancing
because if they are a true believer God will protect them from the virus. Some
say that this is God’s judgement for one’s sin. Scoffers will say that the
COVID-19 is evidence that a loving God does not exist, because a loving God
wouldn’t want people to suffer. Do I have all the answers to why God allows
suffering, evil and the coronavirus in this world? Nope. But God may be using
this as a wake up call for our faith. Ultimately where do we place our security
in? Even in the midst of chaos, God does not waiver, or change. God continues
to be the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. His love is constant and
relentless. God calls us to Himself, because he is our highest good.
Nothing can Separate us from the Love
of God
In
John 21, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” And I think God is really asking
us, “Do you love me? Do you trust me? Even if you were to get deathly sick,
would you still trust and glorify me? Where, what or who do you place your
trust in?” In Psalm 46, God is pictured as our refuge and fortress. God is our
strength, our redeemer, our comfort, our shelter, our shield, our rock etc. Romans
8 talks about how nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Even if I
were to get sick and die, I know that nothing can separate me from the
infinite, everlasting and perfect love of God. Every day and every moment we
have the opportunity to draw closer to God. We have the opportunity to receive
God’s love and commune with Him.
Rest in God. Our God is Greater.
God
may be using this coronavirus for hundreds of reasons we can’t understand. The
ripple effect of having people stay home could be to have his people find rest
in Him. It may be a way of drawing believers and non-believers closer to Him in
intimacy. For example someone who feels alone at home, may turn to seeking God
in prayer and realizing that he is Emmanuel, God with us and that he is always
omnipresent and yet a personal and loving God to even the smallest of details
and thoughts of an individual. Unlike humans, God can give his full attention
to every living and non-living thing created at the same time without having to
lift a pinky. God knows the deepest worries of our heart and calls us to find
rest in Him, to cast our sorrows and to not fear because he is with us. The
Bible has several verses that minister to someone dealing with anxiety and
stress. The solution he gives is himself. He is our source of true peace and
contentment. He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Paul writes, “I heave learned the secret
of being content in any and every situation..” (Phil. 4:12). The amount of sin,
evil, chaos, and suffering may be great, but our God is greater. God can use
anything for multiple reasons beyond our comprehension. But if we ponder our
circumstances, it’s possible we might find some lessons to learn and other
spiritual meanings. For
myself I am using this time at home to find a deeper sense of solitude and rest
in God. Usually everything can get very busy and require us moving at a fast
pace to get things accomplished. In a indirect way, this could be one way to
get our attention to slow down and acknowledge Him.
What COVID-19 is not.
It’s
easy to glorify and praise God when life is going well. But really, I think God
is more glorified in times of suffering, during trials and tribulations. Yeah,
the coronavirus absolutely sucks. But there have been wars, famines, and
hundreds of other natural disasters before that God was still governing over
and completely supreme over. There are examples in scripture when God could
have easily prevented deaths and other chaotic disasters. Sometimes God
intervened and sometimes He didn’t. Either way, “God causes all things to work
together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to
His purpose.” It’s possible to get cancer and God can 100% use that for his
glory. Do I know exactly why and how God works? Of course not. But I know that
God demonstrates both his Grace and Justice. Does someone dying mean that God
is demonstrating his wrath and judgement for sin? For those who are Christian,
I would argue definitely not. Under the atonement of Jesus Christ there is no
more condemnation. Through double imputation, Christ gave us the right to be
called Children of God. God made him who had no sin to become sin for us (2
Cor. 5:21). God reconciled us to him and does not count our trespasses against
him. And by his grace we obtain his righteousness. We become a new creature and
are given the Holy Spirit. Some might think that the COVID-19 might be a first
plague that appears in the end times. It likely isn’t because the plagues are
directed towards those who belong to the Antichrist. If saints were not
affected by the virus and immune to it, there would be a much stronger argument
for it being one of the seven plagues mentioned in Revelation 16-17.
I spoke with a friend over the phone and it turns out that
late at night he drove to a hospital. He knew he wouldn’t really be able to
visit patients with the coronavirus, but he still drove to the hospital parking
lot and decided to pray for all the sick, not only at the hospital but those across
the country and the world. Sometimes in our first world country we have so many
distractions, technology, wealth and abundance that it’s easy to only focus on
ourselves and our own circles. It’s easy to not think about those who may be dying
or the poor going hungry. There is always a need for Christians to demonstrate
Christ’s love by being the salt and light. In this pressing time Christians ought
not to be consumed with overwhelming anxiety and fear of the virus. Rather Christians
are to express love and compassion by offering their support to help those in
need.
Matthew 10:7 says “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of
heaven is at hand.” Preaching that the kingdom of heaven is at hand is synonymous with
several other passages in the gospels. Preaching that the kingdom of heaven is
at hand is really Jesus’ main message. “The time has come,” he said, “The
kingdom of God has come. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15).
However the good news wasn’t understood as salvation through the atonement of
Christ. Jesus was still alive. The good news was the coming of the Kingdom of
God. The Kingdom of God is already, but not yet in it’s complete fullness. The
kingdom indicates God’s rule and reign, not only in the realm of heaven, but
that God’s people can rejoice in submission to God’s sovereign rule and government.
In
conclusion, our world has faced pandemics, wars and devastating disasters
before. The COVID-19 is a game changer and has in some way affected all of us.
Christians are to let their light shine by putting their faith in God and ministering
to others in this time. There are things we can control to protect ourselves
from the virus, and for the things we cannot, we need to put our trust in God’s
providence. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. God works all things
for the good of those who love him. It is in darkness, the hopelessness, and
suffering, where God is most magnified. In the darkness, Christ is our light.
God is our hope, our refuge and our fortress. And in our pain, sickness and
suffering, we can cry out to God for healing, restoration, rejuvenation,
comfort, and peace. This is a time to draw closer to God in intimacy. For those
quarantined at home, they are given the opportunity to worship God in the
spiritual discipline of solitude. We can also practice the discipline of giving
and charity to those in need. We can intercede and pray for those who are sick.
And more importantly, we can proclaim the good news of God’s Kingdom. We don’t
need to fear, because our God is with us.
