Christians Are Called to Handle COVID-19 With Care
A calm and peaceful attitude has perhaps never been more countercultural than in our present world struck with panic over COVID-19. Nevertheless, Jesus’ command for us to “fear not” remains true today. To exhibit a Christlike example to a world in desperate need of hope, we must live out the biblical principles of keeping calm, being the light in the darkness and trusting in the Lord. Believe it or not, we can balance taking necessary precautions against sickness with maintaining the mind of Christ.
First and foremost, it would be remiss if I did not stress that Christians play an equal part in preventing the spread of sickness during this time. Taking precautions recommended by the CDC does not mean we do not trust God, but rather that we recognize the free will He has given us to obey those He has placed in authority and we are choosing to use that gift for the good of ourselves and others. This is why I have moved my weekly in-person Bible study to be held only by teleconference and online for at least the next four weeks. As James 2 reminds us, our outward works matter just as much as our inward thoughts and beliefs in God’s eyes.
Where can we draw our reasoning for being cautious and prudent while being at peace and full of hope? Personally, I have found great encouragement during these times by examining the life of Joseph.
By some accounts, Joseph lived a terrible life. After being sold into slavery by his own brothers, he worked a lowly position under the Pharoah of Egypt for many years, undergoing numerous trials, including being falsely accused of rape. To no fault of his own, Joseph was ripped away from his comfortable life as the most beloved son of his father and placed in a degraded position away from most things he knew and loved.
Sound familiar?
When many years of faithful service to Pharaoh had passed, Joseph was elevated to a high position among Egypt’s leadership, earning praise and esteem of many who had once been over him. After a famine drove Joseph’s long-estranged brothers out of their homeland and into Egypt, where they sought sustenance, they encountered Joseph in his high-ranking position all those years later after believing he was dead. Joseph’s response to their apologies and woes for what they had done to him is so inspiring, especially during this time.
Joseph said to his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Genesis 50:20, NAS).
What stands out about Joseph’s reply is the assurance that God can turn something objectively terrible into something beneficial. I don’t know about you, but I can already see how this truth is manifesting during COVID-19.
As many of us are confined to our homes with more free time on our hands, this is an excellent opportunity to be still, “know that He is God” and strengthen our spiritual muscles.
Often, we fault the busy routine of our daily lives for not spending more time in prayer and Bible reading. Isn’t it interesting how social distancing, the best way to stop the spread of the virus, is also conducive to getting alone with God?
As Christians, let’s utilize this time to engage with the stillness, listen to God, press into Scripture, worship Him and pray fervently for the needs in our world. Even if you’re working from home, you now have additional hours due to a lack of commute. Take this new-found flexibility to read devotional books, memorize Scripture or listen to worship music or a podcast. Satan is no doubt eager to use these unexpected events to incite fear and divide us, but as Christians, we are called to cling to the hope that God can turn what was meant for evil into something for our greater good.
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