Patagonia Lake State Park, Patagonia, Arizona
A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. ~ Proverbs 21:6
Let’s talk for a moment about the issue on everyone’s minds these days – Coronavirus. You know, when I first heard the word, it took me back to my days working in the veterinary field. We had a vaccine for dogs that vaccinated against a disease called Corona Virus. I could assume it’s the same thing, since this new outbreak originated in bats, but that’s all it would be. An assumption.
Some have allowed themselves and the media to terrify them about this new disease affecting people, especially since it seems to be spreading globally, while others believe it’s all blown out of proportion – especially by the media.
So I did some checking, just in the United States.
It seems the symptoms are very similar to the influenza virus. I also found that those at the highest risk of contracting the Coronavirus are some of the same as those at highest risk of contracting influenza. In fact, the list for the flu is longer. This is the CDC’s high-risk list for Coronavirus.
- Those 65 and older
- People with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes
- People who live in nursing homes and long-term care facilities (which pretty much includes the two above)
If you check the statistics from the CDC on this year’s influenza ‘season’ (October, 2019 – February, 2020), you’ll find that hundreds of thousands contracted the flu and somewhere between 12,000 – 30,000 actually died from it during those months (and remember, this is just in the US). The wide range in figures is because some cases are actually documented, but many more are not. Now, you’d think with numbers like that, we’d hear more about it in the news, wouldn’t you? And yet, we don’t.
Why?
According to what I read; it seems most likely it’s because the CDC hasn’t had ample opportunity to study Coronavirus like they have influenza. It also seems to be the fact that there’s no vaccine yet.
Many people are afraid and because of fear (real or imagined), drastic measures have been taken, which have led to financial instability in the form of not only the falling stock market, but also in loss of salary as people are forced to remain at home causing a ripple effect; from parents having to remain at home to care for their children (due to school closings), to forced travel limits both nationally and internationally (meaning those in the travel industry are not working), to business closings – everything from restaurants (due to lack of customers) to offices.
I’m not here to weigh in on whether these measures are necessary or not. I’m certainly no expert.
But I can comment on fear.
It was during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first inaugural speech that our country first heard the words, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” Those words seem appropriate today and every day, as not only the Coronavirus scare rips through everything we know, but even as fear and anxiety over everything in our daily lives, seems to grab hold of more and more people.
And the one thing we should all fear and Who holds the cure for all fears – God Himself – is diminished, set aside or forgotten.
When Scripture mentions fearing God, it’s not about quivering in a corner terrified of Him, although there’s certainly reason to be afraid of His wrath. But it’s a fear born out of respect. Like fearing your parents’ or your boss’s reaction when you’ve done something wrong. In Exodus 20:18 & 20, Moses shares with us an incident that happened while the Israelites were traveling in the desert. When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance. Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
In Deuteronomy 5:29, God shares His heart with us as He tells Moses, “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and keep all My commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!”
Jesus also warns us to have a respectful fear of His Father and ours when He shares in Luke 12:4-5, I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you Whom you should fear: Fear Him Who, after the killing of the body has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him.
But besides a healthy fear of the Lord God, the Bible also teaches us about relying on Him in the face of our worldly fears – whether they’re real (as in the case of authentic threats to our safety) or taking on the form of unnecessary anxiety due to our lack of trust in Him.
King David’s Psalm 27 addresses the real fear from outside threats when he confides to God, The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. My heart says of You, “Seek His face!” Your face, LORD, will I seek. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (verses 1, 4, 5, 8 & 14)
In Psalm 139:23, David shares his thoughts, Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Going back to finish Jesus’ words in Luke 12, He follows fearing God because of His ability to cast us into hell, with relying on and trusting Him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. I tell you, whoever acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns Me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. (verses 6-9)
Later in the same chapter, Jesus continues His words about worry when He tells us, Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn’ yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (verses 22-26)
There are many, many scriptures that address fear, worry and anxiety, but let me end with these words from the apostles Peter and Paul: ‘God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble.’ (Peter’s quoting Proverbs 3:34 here.) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen. (I Peter 5:5b-11)
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. (Philippians 4:4-8)
And wash your hands thoroughly and often. (By the way, that’s also in scripture.) 😊
Today was a rainy day, and we spent it indoors performing various domestic chores, making reservations and blog work. And because of that, I only have two pictures to share with you. One is of our oldest son who attended a volunteer function at his church, the other is of a flowering tree Blaine discovered on his short walk by himself this afternoon. Both look marvelous!
The amazing church he attends is called Mosaic and is located in Wadsworth.
