Although sometimes we cannot understand it, God has control over all things. " And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Matthew 10:30 NIV) "In him we were also chosen,[a] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will," (Ephesians 1:11 NIV)
COVID-19 came and upset every aspect of our routine, took away our comfort, gave us freedom of movement and expression. In the same way it allowed us to see that we did not know those we thought we knew. Christians wonder what lessons Jesus has for us in these difficult times when the Coronavirus changed our lives.
There is no doubt that this pandemic brings multiplicity of lessons for our lives. However, I think there are two main lessons for Christian life. The first lesson we must derive from this pandemic is: let us live in God's love. " “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. " (Matthew 22:36-39 NIV)
The word used in this passage, as well as in Mark 12, to refer to neighbor is "plesion" which means "the one that is there". The term has no sense of person, and it applies to the one immediately by your side, that is, everyone and anyone.
Now, what is love? The word love is used daily in contexts that are sometimes absurd, inoperative. People say they love a restaurant or a meal, or a piece of clothes, but it is not really like that. Love is something else. Love is an attitude, a choice of doing good, protecting, caring for someone. To define what is or what is not love let us study this well-known Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians (emphasis added):
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I cannot get tired of reading the aforementioned chapter, I cannot get tired of reflecting on it. The depth of its message contrasts with how short it is. Let us translate its impact to the pandemic situation:
· Love is patient – Love involves having empathy and suffering with others. Can you imagine the fear that must feel those who have health conditions that place them at high risk of death from the virus? Then you are interested that others do not get COVID-19, do your part, and sacrifice yourself through this process.
· is kind – that is, it does not hurt others. Then you assume responsibility for not spreading the virus, wearing your mask, following public health recommendations, staying withing protective guidelines as much as possible and avoid exposing others to contagion.
· it always protects – that is, it does not violate best practices, nor does it hinder the work of protecting others.
· love is not self-seeking – that is, it does not act selfishly, but shares its resources with those in need, it acts towards the common well-being. It is, empathetic.
· always perseveres – You do not protest so that the government will eliminate the use of a mask or because it limits common activities; you are subject to the rule that most benefits collective health.
· love rejoices with the truth – You stay informed with trustworthy and neutral sources and do not share false information that prevents people from making wise and informed decisions about the pandemic. Make statistical interpretation restrictively, not liberally, that is, in favor of avoiding risk.
· love never fails – You start thinking about others, the common well-being and assume the responsibility that comes with it, you suffer the process, but you suffer it with purpose. This is no time to seek comfort, it is time to love.
If you love your neighbor as yourself, then you take care of him, you protect him. That is the lesson of the pandemic, to love the one next to you as yourself: to care for him and to protect him. Follow the recommendations of pertinent authorities. "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people." (1 Peter 2: 13-15 NIV)
I think the second lesson is: I come soon, are you ready? The pandemic made us confront the fragility of life. Suddenly, we saw thousands of people dying every day all over the world. We saw too many unexpected, sudden, untimely losses that defied normalcy.
For Christians there must be no fear of physical death because we are certain of the redemption that will lead us to the celestial kingdom. For us dying is gain (Philippians 1:21). However, we must be prepared for it. " So, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:44 RVR60).
Consistently the Bible exhorts us to be prepared: see the parable of the ten virgins and the parable of the bags of gold (Matthew 25) in which there is a direct message to be ready for the time of Christ's arrival. We are warned to live properly because Christ will come as a thief at night (Matthew 24).
Jesus is coming soon; we see the signs. Before his return Jesus is giving us a lesson and an opportunity. This is a call to awaken from sin and turn our faces to Jesus. We must imitate Christ, who in love and sacrifice gave his life for us. That detachment from the self out of love for others is what we must emulate during this pandemic. "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." (1 John 4:20 NIV)
This pandemic is no coincidence, it is an event laid out in God's perfect plan. Let the one with ears hear. Let us separate the straw from the grain. Let us look at people's reactions and learn if ecclesiastical leaders respond to the situation by keeping the Word of God. Let us start identifying false prophets. "It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them." (2 Peter 2:21 NIV) In our preparation we have to be wise." “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." (Matthew 7:15 NIV) " Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:20 NIV).
Are you, reader, prepared and living in God's love?
