As I write this, South Africa is now for eight months in a lockdown due to covid-19. Currently, we are facing a second wave of infections and the daily infection rate is about 8000 per day.
As a Christian, I evaluate and interpret what is happening in the world and around me from a Biblical worldview perspective.
Let us look at the statistics knowing that there are skeptics. On 12 December 2020 South Africa had 852,965 cases of Covid-19. We have lost 23,106 people and we need to pray for the families and friends. We thank the Lord for 760,118 that recovered and are well. Please pray for 69,741 that are still struggling with the disease and 546 that are seriously critical. We had 14,301 cases per million and 387 per million of our total population of 59,643,060. We can thank your government for a total of 5,819,755 tests conducted which is 97,576 per million of the population. 5
God's Word commands us to be content with our circumstances. This command is not conditional on how we feel about the fairness and the prospects of the situation.
Let's look at two examples from Scripture - Joseph and Paul.
Joseph was falsely accused and ended up in jail for many years. He was an example to inmates and helped fellow inmates and the guards. He did not revenge or even had to counter desires to revenge. He loved his brothers who sold him into slavery.
The apostle Paul suffered beatings, shipwrecks and was in several prisons for extended periods, yet he wrote and encouraged the churches from his confinement!
By not being content we display to the world that we lack faith. We profess to believe that God is always in control, all-knowing, and a loving Father. In Romans 3:28 we read: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Many have lost family, friends, and colleagues. The economy has been damaged and many lost jobs and businesses. Our medical workers have been under tremendous stress for such a long time. The future is not yet bright, but we praise the Lord that vaccines are being developed.
Many Christians are undermining the governments' and authorities' efforts to contain the spreading of the coronavirus by not observing social distance, wearing masks, subscribing to conspiracy theories, and influencing others to do the same! The Word of God teaches us to submit to our leaders and to obey secular rules. Christians must obey their government. Jesus famously said: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17, KJV). 3
I pray that you and I will be content now and after the pandemic and that we will have compassion and help others by bearing their burdens. (Galatians 6:2). We can not do it in our own strength but in Jesus Christ, we can do it.
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To explore further
1. Sermon on Contentment by Dr. Joshua Mack
2. There are several good books on the subject: Books on Christian Contentment from Augustine Bookroom
3. Christian obedience to the government - The Christian Institute https://www.christian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/cog.pdf (Accessed 13 Dec 2020)
4. The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment - Jeremiah Burroughs
2 comments:
Dankie Johan. Wyse en waar woorde.
Baie dankie Rudie. Waardeer
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