Phuveyi Dozo,
Naga United Village, Dimapur
The present scenario seems to be globally isolative, depressive and agitating. No nation has immunity against vulnerability of COVID-19 pandemic. Our global family combats and fights for survival and a cleansing. The present struggle gives us a humane sentiment such as a global community of fragility, a deep sense of neighborhood that needs compassion and love, an awe of God’s sovereignty, and a reminder of the imminent end time. Let us believe and pray that the prevailing predicament will bring a timely sunshine from the Greatest Physician, Jesus Christ. In the struggle towards a victory, we must put our faith into action.
Action 1
Christians must keep your biblical faith in God against false wave or speculation. Our prayer must be global, not territorial and ethnocentric. Our voice must cover entire world. The fire of ‘no choice’ is on and we have no time to wait for each other. The globe is fragile and vulnerable. It is not the time for nations and religions to blame each other. Can coronavirus be viewed as a discipline or punishment from God or a time for the humanity to turn to God in submission for salvation? The living God will act in His own time. But God wants our single and undivided hearts. Our connection with God matters.
Action 2
The Bible tells us about where we can worship the true God (John 4:21-24). We feel agitated when corporate worships are suspended at the wake of COVID-19. But church buildings are not the basis of Christian faith. Religious conviction is not an immunity. The Kingdom of God is in our heart (Matt 3:2). Good time will return to resume gatherings in buildings. It is a time for society to return to family altar and family values. If you want to see a new era as post-coronavirus, it will be a ‘recreated family’. Churches will grow and society will advance in trustworthiness as a result of prolonged lockdown. We thank God that church members can have coherence by means of Utube and online or video connection.
Action 3
It is time to express human compassion that evidences our love for God. The need of the hour is love and service. Our neighbors are people we must have mercy on regardless nationality, location and distance. Human pain is a common pain and loss is a common loss. Religious hidebound must not victimize our neighbors. The Lord Jesus defined ‘neighbors’ as people we must touch with compassion and mercy.
Action 4
It is time to turn to sovereign God that He may reveal His knowledge to the scientists to wipe out this deadly plague. God promised His answer when nations are faced with plague (2Chron 7:13). But healing of God comes from repentance in humility, prayer and submission (2 Chron 7:14). God also promised us life from death if we seek Him (Amos 5:4).
Action 5
It is a peril and strange time in our history. The devastating plague of coronavirus creates uncertainty in our minds. But the Lord Jesus told us to be watchful and ready because we know not the time of the end. A time such as this perplexity (Luke 21:25,26) is a reminder of eschatological ending of humanity. But let us pray that the will of God be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
