There is no question that Covid-19 has rocked the world. They call it a novel virus, meaning it is "original" and "virulent," that is: a poison, with the strength of enmity. Enmity is hatred. It is rebellion against the love and purity of God. It is bitterly hostile and its nature is to target life and murder it--within and without. James 4:2 says:
You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask.
Enmity targets the relationship, or vital life union between God and man, and mankind with regard to one another. This dynamic of the friction between good and evil is not "novel," in that it is not new or unique to this generation. It is written in the Bible, and its origin began with a venomous serpent in a garden (Gen 3).
The word virus has the same Latin root as venom, and it means:
Extremely active in doing injury; very poisonous or venomous; bitter in enmity; malignant, with bitter spite or severity; foul or contagious.
We are facing a global crisis, or krisos, which means the judgment of God. God simply shows up, and the state of physical nature reflects the spiritual state of the souls residing in it, whether individually or collectively. It is called revelation, where the truth of the matter is exposed as Truth Himself draws near. It is a point of decision. There are two outcomes from a crisis, recovery or death. Death means: to be turned over to the enemy of God, if this is what we have chosen (Deut 30:19). If we choose separation from God, we will be separated. Recovery means: to be covered again by grace. It happens when we are rescued, and decidedly turn to the Lord again. In this event, He mercifully covers us beneath His healing wings of protection.
This point of decision requires God's choice and our choice.
God's choice is written in the Bible.
The question is:
What do you choose?
Recovery launches revival, which means to come back to life again! The Webster 1828 definition of revival is:
To return or recover from apparent death, as in the revival of a drowned person; a revival of the spirits; to recall from a state of neglect, oblivion, obscurity, or depression; to awaken [people] to their spiritual concerns; to recover new life with [youthful] vigor.
We can exchange a virus for a revival.
Zechariah 9:11-12 tells us God is faithful to the faithful:
Because of and for the sake of the [covenant of the Lord with His people, which was sealed with sprinkled] covenant blood, I have released and sent forth your imprisoned people out of the waterless pit.
Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you.
Return to God. He will restore.
This virus is only novel for those who do not read the Bible or consult the Creator Who has known everything from the foundations of the world. God will not be mocked and He sends forth messengers to tell the lost the truth. Many pastors are calling for a revival in the United States of America, which is desperately needed. But, we must look at the impact of this virus: it is global in scale. God created all mankind. He gathers all nations to Himself.
We need a GLOBAL REVIVAL.
THE WORLD needs to Listen to God.
Acts 2: 17, 19, 21, 22a says:
God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind... And I will show wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath...
And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord—Christ] shall be saved.
Listen to what I have to say: Jesus...
As a Christian writer, I asked God, what do I say about what is happening in our world? Leaders are doing their best to cope proactively and remain hopeful. Experts are working together in amazing ways. Yet, as wise as many people are, the truest answer is given plainly above: JESUS.
The world needs to turn to Jesus,
and it needs to do it now.
A pouring out of the Holy Spirit initially manifests as pain, or even fear, to us. But when we turn to God and accept His Son, we are cleansed of the sin and hatred (death) that has been slowly consuming us. The enemy's greatest ploy is to convince mankind he does not exist. But, when we choose to believe the Word of God and turn back to living for God, forsaking all evil to accept His Goodness, we then come into a brand new life. This is what God does--LIFE. Jesus is called Savior (Sozo) and He rescues us today. He heals us in every area--spiritually and physically. He does this individually all the time. I have written books on it. But this is the first time in my lifetime I have ever seen God do this very same thing with the whole world, at once. He is reaching out to us. The question is, will we reach out to Him and be reconciled? The hinge that swings the gate from death to revival is CHOICE. No one alive escapes making it:
I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live (Deut 30:19).
It is timely this event is happening at Easter. Jesus was crucified, died and buried. He paid for the sins of THE WORLD, not just for me, not just for you, not just for the United States--FOR THE WORLD. Then, He rose again!
Isn't it time to realize we did not create life? God did.
Isn't it time we repent and look to God to save us? He is the only One Who can.
Can we only come together as a globe when there is a crisis of this magnitude? Or, can we exchange this virus, this hatred, bitterness and poison, for revival, love, and a second chance at life?
Can we finally put down the global enmity and division and come to unity in God through Christ?
I believe we can. I believe it's time.
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you; He is [uncompromisingly] just and having salvation [triumphant and victorious], patient, meek, lowly, and riding on a donkey, upon a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zech 9:9).
And the Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of His people, for they shall be as the [precious] jewels of a crown, lifted high over and shining glitteringly upon His land. For how great is God’s goodness and how great is His beauty! And how great [He will make Israel’s] goodliness and [Israel’s] beauty (Zech 9:16-17)!
The world needs a revival. It is Easter Sunday, 2020--a day that overrides any virus. Jesus is the answer. This is what He tells us in John 11:25:
Jesus said to her, I am [Myself] the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on) Me, although he may die, yet he shall live.
As a writer, I cannot put it any more plainly than what Jesus has already said. Maybe it isn't that the world has not been told. Maybe it is simply that the world has not been listening.
Jesus said...I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me (John 14:6).
Listen to Him, and then tell the whole world. Whoever calls on the Name of Jesus shall be healed and saved.
It's time to make a choice.
Choose Life, that you and your descendants shall live.
For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation
and be made safe and sound through Him.
John 3:17
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Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (La Habra, CA: The Zondervan Corporation and the Lockman Foundation, 1987). Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible (AMPC), Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Definitions adapted from: Slater, Rosalie J. Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. Chesapeake, VA: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1967, 1995.