In the last week, our world has changed drastically. In many ways, it’s gotten a lot smaller and continues to shrink day by day. Travel to many parts of the world has been banned. Various industries have called off events and even closed down all operations. Markets have continued to fall. Now we find ourselves in a National State of Emergency. All of which has caused fear to become a widespread feeling across our nation and the rest of the world.
As Christians, we must turn to the Bible in times of fear like this to see exactly what our response should be. While coronavirus is not something anyone should take lightly. Because we must maintain our responsibility to protect our families and even those outside our close circles. Making sure to not take on any unnecessary risk that could result in the infection of others.
All that being said Christians must understand that this outbreak is no different than anything else that strikes fear throughout the world. Our faith in God and His inspired word should remove this fear from our lives. Scripture is clear that there is nothing we as people of God should fear. Below you will find various excerpts of scripture that will remind you that Christians never have a reason to fear and always have a reason to hope.
Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Psalm 27:1 (ESV)
1 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?
Jeremiah 29:12 (ESV)
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
John 14:27 (ESV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Matthew 6:25–27 (ESV)
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Matthew 6:34 (ESV)
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 3:14 (ESV)
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
1 John 4:18 (ESV)
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
1 John 4:14–15 (ESV)
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
Those are only a few of the many passages of scripture that remind us of the love our Lord has for us and that helps remove fear from our lives. While also giving us a reason to hope for a better day tomorrow. As well as knowing an answer to our prayers is on the horizon. However, there are other passages of scripture that should give us an even greater sense of comfort.
Passages of scripture that circle around the promise God has given to those who believe. A promise that says Christians shall not die as the world counts death but will experience eternal life.
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 10:28 (ESV)
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 11:25–26 (ESV)
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Not only does scripture give us the promise that we will not die. But as you read through the New Testament you will notice that those who died in faith are referred to as asleep and not dead.
Matthew 9:24 (ESV)
24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him.
John 11:11–13 (ESV)
11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 (ESV)
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
1 Corinthians 15:6 (ESV)
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
This is because again those who die in faith don’t die as the world thinks of death. But are waiting for the magnificent return of Christ. When all those who have placed their faith in Him will be taken up into heaven. And sit in the seat that has been prepared for them at the Lord’s table. Leaving the old body behind to take on the new body created by God.
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 (ESV)
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (ESV)
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
2 Corinthians 5:1 (ESV)
1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
In Heaven coronavirus will be nothing more than a distant memory of our time spent on earth. Scripture tells us that God will wipe away every tear. That the things which caused pain and suffering on earth will no longer affect us.
Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
We don’t know what tomorrow will hold for us. A cure could be found that wipes the entire virus away. Or we could be in for many more months of not knowing what will happen. Sadly many more could die from this virus but we as Christians must realize that there is nothing for us to fear as for us dying just means going to be with Christ.
Philippians 2:21 (ESV)
21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Don’t allow yourself to be consumed with the same fear that the world is experiencing. Know that your God loves you, hears your prayers, and has a place prepared for you. Continue to have hope and share that hope with others.
That is truly the greatest thing we can do in a time like this. It is not the time to completely isolate ourselves from others, but it is time to share our hope with those who have none left. It is time to share the Gospel like never before. Leading others to Christ so they too will have no reason to fear and will receive the gift of eternal life through salvation. The church as a whole must keep working to complete the task Jesus gave us until the last second runs out.
Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Don’t allow fear to control you or even be a part of your life. Our God is bigger than any virus ever could be and each of us is headed to a better place. But please remember that having no fear does not give us the excuse to be reckless. Don’t be consumed with worry and fear but be sure to take the proper precautions to help contain this virus. If for no greater reason than that more people will not die without coming to know the Lord.
Help us to cause other Christians to see they have no reason to fear. This is a time when hope needs to be inspired and scripture is exactly what is needed to inspire that hope. So please take a moment and share this article on your social media. Your simple share could be exactly what someone you know who is struggling with fear needs to see today. Thank you and God Bless!
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