You shall laugh at destruction and famine, and you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
Corondia-Drive-Us? Yes, you heard me right. Corondia-drive-us! Someone sent a post to my wife’s WhatsApp page… Is it a page or what? Sorry, I am not social media savvy.
The post was video footage of a little girl going home from school. An unidentified woman accosted the child. She asked her why she was leaving school at a time she ought to be in her classes. The child replied her teacher asked everyone to go home. Why would your teacher do that? Our teacher said, Corondia-Drive-us! Of course, the innocent child meant to say they were sent home because of the corona virus pandemic.
The nations of the earth have been somewhat brought to their knees, driven by a beast of the earth that is invisible to the naked eye. It has defied nations great and powerful without leaving the small and vulnerable unravelled. None spared, from first-world nations to last-world nations, if you like.
Nations that boast the most powerful and sophisticated weapons of war and those with nothing to write home about are equally under siege. Then you have leaders who wield tremendous political and economic power… “I have been infected by the virus and have subsequently isolated myself in line with WHO established protocols.”
The rich and poor, great and small, celebrities and fans alike have been brought under. We are all human after all. But must we be driven by ‘Corondia’ to come to terms with our equality?
COVID-19. Notwithstanding the billions of dollars spent on guns and bombs, our armouries are useless in the face of this microscopic beast. Pathetic! Our first line of defence is “basic hygiene!” Sorry, what did you say? Basic hygiene: wash your hands regularly; avoid touching surfaces in public places; do not touch your face, mouth, nose, ears or eyes with unclean hands; keep yourself and your environment clean; those already infected with the virus and are presenting symptoms, should wear facemasks to protect others; practice social distancing and so on. Little things do matter after all. What a contradiction!
Corona virus wears a crown and reigns over the hearts of men with the terror of fear. The trepidation is palpable, but it shall be dethroned in the not too distant future. However, are we taking any lessons home from the ravage of this tiny devil?
Before we proceed, I would like to doff my hat to medics all around the world who are on the frontlines in the battle against this existential threat. Stretched beyond the limits, they volitionally put their lives in harm’s way to save other lives.
They are the generals and foot soldiers, the heroes that are standing up to this crimson enemy. Sadly, some have been lost and the others, though wearied, continue in the battle, undeterred. I celebrate you!
COVID-19, which I heard, means ‘corona virus discovered in 2019,’ is the world’s current story. The death toll sends shivers down the spine of many. In a short space, the beast has painfully snuffed out the lives of thousands. We do not ask for whom the bells toll, because we are part and parcel of humanity, they toll for us.
Many more, tormented by the uncertainty a positive status brings, hang on the brink between life and death, clinging to life as with a thread. Thankfully, we are encouraged that such a status is not necessarily a death sentence. The high and mighty and people thought to be inconsequential nobodies are forced into self-isolation. But no human is without value!
Fear has gripped the inhabitants of the earth. Is this Judgement Day? No, it is not. Even though we are in the Last Days, it is not. Judgement Day will come, as certainly as the sunset. For the unprepared, it would be infinitely more fearful than this. Nevertheless, we neither have to fear Judgement Day nor the corona virus. It depends on where your anchor holds. If your heart is circumcised and your hope is in Christ, you should not be faint-hearted.
Globally, this sad story has inundated social media, TV and radio networks. A new set of viruses are been unleashed: fear, fake-news and fraud. I got a call from a lovely friend asking about the correlation between 5G-technology and the corona virus. Like seriously! There is none. ‘Nada,’ as the Americans would say. A prominent American will call it “FAKE NEWS.”
There are wicked people out there who use the pandemic to take advantage of others to defraud them. Guard yourself. The heart of man is “more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?”
I am a confirmed unbeliever when it comes to false and unverifiable narratives. I neither repost nor forward. No other ear hears it from me. Thank God, there are facts and truths out there. Some are sad, but others are heart-warming.
However, we can concentrate on things that edify rather than those that cause fear, worry and insomnia, which make one more vulnerable to diseases, because they depress the immune system.
The Bible talks about people driven by winds, tossed to-and-fro like children. Is corona virus driving you crazy through fear, or are you full of peace within, motivated by the love of Christ? Jesus Christ is coming again, is your soul anchored on Him?
Finally, let me encourage you with what Paul admonished,
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious- the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.
The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Lord, send labourers into the harvest.
Thank you friends. Keep safe, and do not forget to keep living, loving and learning.
References: Job 5:22, NKJV; Hebrews 9:27; Jeremiah 17:9, NASU; Ephesians 4:14; Philippians 4:6-9, THE MESSAGE; Luke 10:2.
