Sunday, March 29, 2020

COVID-19 Series: #1—What’s God got to do with it?

(19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19)


“I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things” (Isaiah 45:6–7).

No person or church or nation can rise higher than their thoughts of God. In our current global crisis of the Coronavirus pandemic, this thought cannot be too far away from our minds: “Has God sent this as a plague upon humanity?” The politically correct answer is, “No, because he is a loving God. He cannot cause the kind of global panic, suffering and death that we are seeing from this pandemic.” However, the biblically correct answer is, “Yes, because he is a God who makes well-being and creates calamity.” God is in sovereign control of all things—including viruses.

We must be careful not to pick and choose aspects about God that we are most comfortable with. When God gave Satan permission to destroy everything Job possessed, all Job was told was that a great wind brought down the house in which his children were and they all perished. Yet, Job said in response to all this, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away." So, even today with this COVID-19, what’s God got to do with it? The answer is, “Everything!” That is where we must start. It is not the politically correct answer but it is the biblically correct one. We may not have all the answers to questions related to this, but if we are truly believers then all our thoughts about COVID-19 should begin with God in the picture as the chief player. Is that how you are thinking about this?

“Sovereign Ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise;
All my times are in Thy hand,
All events at Thy command.”
—John Ryland (1753–1827)

25 comments:

  1. Amen Pastor Conrad. From Toronto Covenant Baptist Church :)

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  2. Thanks for reminding us of the fact that God is sovereign over all things, including coronavirus. God Bless, Mzee!

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  3. "The remote cause of all things is God" (John Calvin). We must all come to accept that men are evil and "continue to invent ways of doing evil"(Romans 1:30). While Covid19 appears to be a creation of mankind, God ordains to purposely achieve his ultimate will in this world. The wisdom of the wise of this world (Scientist, etc) God overthrows and brings it to naught. It is Him who raises and brings down kingdoms (Daniel) The World economies have tumbled because God has brought this calamity for a purpose. Looking forward to your thoughtful insights Bishop Mbewe.

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  4. Oh praise Be God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with Word loving hearts like those of Pastor Mbewe to remind us of God's view on COVID-19.

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  5. Glory be to God who is sovereign over all things

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  6. Very insightful.Musonda Musole

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  7. I'm glad to recieve this Article. Scriptural Structured.I will share it.😊

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  8. This is the CORRECT Biblical position regarding the current crisis which man in his pride find to be a bitter pill to swallow.

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  9. thank you for reminding us pastor

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  10. Thank you for doing this. Great first article. D Scott Meadows, Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church (Reformed), Exeter, New Hampshire, USA

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  11. Thank you for this timely reminder.Janet Chisupa

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  12. Though difficult to digest at first, yes, your analysis is biblical. God is speaking to mankind through this covid pandemic- that man is not in charge, God is.

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  13. Indeed Pst,we should rest in His Sovereignty.
    Thank you for putting it into perspective. Prudence

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  14. Thanks for the biblical truth. We trust God will end the conoravirus after He gets glory out of it. He does all for His glory and for the good of His people(us)

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  15. Great it thy faithfulness. God is sovereign!
    Asante Sana

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  16. The most confident place to start in any crisis is "God is sovereign. I will turn to Him to ascertain his will in this matter"

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  17. All belongs to you Lord,thank you for showing us that nothing is above you.

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  18. Thank you Pastor for this reflection and direction.
    I was getting worried that we seem to be looking elsewhere but to God.
    We really need to look to God and call on all to do like wise.

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  19. Mhh...I have just been exposed, my starting point is not God. May his grace find and draw me back him.

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