What Is More Dangerous Than Covid-19?
A guest post by my friend, Ian McNaughton. Ian is a retired minister in the UK (so he writes with a British perspective), author of several books, and an encourager of the right use of Christian literature wherever there are readers!
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a)
As a nation we have fallen away from the Christian foundations fixed in this continent over 2000 years. It is now a time of social upheaval and spiritual anarchy, fear and bankruptcies; what is to be said? Spiritual anarchy is a dangerous plague of the 21st century in UK and Europe and it is even more dangerous than Covid-19. You’d better believe it!
The World Today
God’s laws are being rejected and His holy righteousness is abhorrent to this generation. The rejection of the Ten Commandments as a rule of life and in politics is a clear example of how far we have transgressed as a western society. When whole societies rebel against God and truth then there is a waiting for judgment. Remember the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? Remember Pompeii? God is not mocked. Remember the Old Testament prophets especially Jeremiah, who preached against the sins of Israel warning of coming chastening? The outcome of unbelief and anarchy is seen in God’s purifying judgments throughout human history. Nor are the churches immune from God’s loving discipline (cf. 1 Peter 4:17; Rev. 2: & 3).
Anarchy is the rebellious child’s response to good advice and caring love and it is more dangerous than any earthly plague. However, God is love and all he does is out of caring and kindly love.
To define love is to define God our Creator and Father in heaven.[1]
‘Who is the Lord?’
There was a plague in ancient Egypt–sound familiar? However, it took ten plagues from God to break the hardened stubborn heathen heart of Egypt’s despot ruler. God’s self-revelation in Scripture and in nature is clear for all to behold but our leaders need to listen. Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice?’’ in a retort to Moses the servant of God (Ex. 5:2). This God, whom Pharaoh disbelieved in, is our God and Savior. There is a call to the nations during this pandemic; it is a call to repentance. But who will blow that trumpet so it is heard? The mainline churches and their leaders are running silent. Until a voice is raised up to broadcast this important point ?we can expect hardened hearts to harden more; unbelieving hearts to blaspheme more; confused and mislead professing Christians to remain unregenerate.
Pray for a Conviction of Sin
Why is it that we ‘Moderns’ think ourselves free from the judgment to come and suppress the fear of God the Almighty? Christians want the best for all citizens but the gospel churches are mocked. God’s people want eternal life‘s blessings for their neighbors but they ignored the good news that Jesus has risen from the dead and offers life in all its fullness. Believers pray for a conviction of sin in the hope of revival of true religion in the soul and throughout the land. However, the lost are insensible to the fact that to neglect true spirituality, found only in Jesus Christ and his gospel, is to be lost forever. To deny the reality of God and the free offer of eternal life from God who loves us is to live a lie. To reject Christ Jesus’ free offer of free salvation found in the gospel is to live without hope. What more can we say? I end with a borrowed comment (from a friend) that needs to be heard:
‘Christianity does not offer a remedy for Covid-19. Christianity offers a remedy for sin, “the blood of Jesus Christ his (God’s) Son cleanseth us from all sin”, (1 John 1:7). It offers a remedy for death, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25 & 26). This is Christianity’s unique and glorious message.’[2]
Abide in the Vine
“My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2)
This parable is telling us God is looking for holy fruit from our lives. He has blessed us and helped us and kept us and provides and been very patient too. But have we been thankful? Have we worshiped? Have we witnessed? The branches that are barren are pruned to remove or stimulate growth so that fruit is produced. The Gardener does it: God does it. Jesus is the Vine. This is how God works and this is what he is doing during this pandemic. He prunes, ‘that it may bear more fruit’. History records epidemics, pandemics, disasters, and judgments in the providence of God. Remember the great London plague of 1666 (c.100,000 died). In the Spanish ‘flu’ pandemic of 1918, millions died.
“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (v.6).
© Rev. Ian S. McNaughton
[1] Let me know if you would like my tract ‘God’s love’.
