January 23, 2022
Greetings and blessings to all of you. This is the season of pestilence which is a deadly overwhelming disease that effects an entire community. How should we as believers respond to this? Is this something that caught God by surprise? Here are two incidents (there are more) in the OT where a pandemic has happened and God was in control. In Eze. 39:22 “I will punish you and your armies with disease and bloodshed; I will send torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur! In this way, I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” In I Chron. 21:11-14 “So Gad came to David and said, these are the choices the Lord has given you. You may choose three years of famine, three months of destruction by the sword of your enemies or three days of severe plague as the angel of the Lord brings devastation throughout the land of Israel. Decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me. I’m in a desperate situation David replied to Gad. But let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands. “So, the Lord sent a plague upon Israel and 70,000 died as a result.” As you can understand from these passages that:
1) Pestilence have always been around…..it is not new
2) God has brought it upon a people who have challenged His authority over EVERYTHING and a people who refuse to accept/follow His ways.
3) God has pre-warned the people that He will show that He is Lord.
4) God always has Grace and Mercy even when He allows Distressing times.
In Romans 8:28 it says “All things work together for good to them that love God to them who are called according to his purpose.” This passage is not for those who chose to live ungodly lives and do not trust in Christ. This promise is for those who knows that ALL things are going to work out in the end. Read the Book of Revelation. Despair is ruled out if we truly believe that God is at work on behalf of those who TRUST GOD 100%
With the Love of Christ
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC