Joel Littlefield

I’m honestly not sure what to make of the Corona virus. Some would tell me that I need to be scared because this thing is really serious. Others are seeing this in a more balanced light, they’re not losing their mind, and they’re also not unaware of the potential threat that looms, and steps are being taken to be ready when and if things get worse. I’ve not decided what I think quite yet. One evening I read an article saying that China is basically curing people by giving them IV’s of vitamin C. While other articles and news agencies seem to have an IV line of panic directly into the population of America.

See what I mean? CONFUSION!

So I’m determined to use what influence I have to help people, and myself for that matter, to trust in a God who IS sovereign, and who actually DOES know.

Hear these words from John 16.“Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

In the hour when Jesus was most alone, when death and betrayal was at His door, He trusted in the closeness of the Father. Today, every follower of Jesus, every born again believer in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ has this very same closeness to the Father, and truly, has no reason to fear.

I like the phrase, “take heart”. In the original language of this text it means to take courage. But this translation makes me think of an intentional action that many of us need to hear today. It’s as if Jesus is saying, when you have tribulation, of any kind, take your heart, your center, your fear, your worry and hopelessness and place it in the hands of Jesus who knows all things. Why? Because He has overcome the world.

Remember that no one else in the universe can make such a claim. Yes, I know this could get serious. I’ve heard the same stats you have. I have kids and a wife, a church that I pastor and plans that I’m making, some of which include travel. Good things. And no, I don’t want to be unwise and foolish. But the questions remains, am I trusting the one who overcame the world, and did so through the darkest trial a human has ever faced?

Jesus said “I have said these things to you, that in me you might have peace.” The key phrase here is, “in me”. In Jesus.

Is this new virus an act of judgement? Is it a tool in the hands of God to wake up the church and cleanse her? I don’t know. But we can say for certain that the outcome of it all, because of the nature of God’s goodness to bring light into the darkness, will work out for the spread of His glory in this lost world.

If you’re on the side of panic, and you’re a Christian, take your heart and entrust it to Jesus. Yes, even if the virus comes to your home state or town, even if it gets worse. I don’t say this on my authority, but upon the authority that every Christian has been given to believe and embrace, the Word’s of Christ.

If you’ve stumbled upon my blog and you’re not a Christian, I’m glad you’re here. I hope you’ll consider that the plight of this world is deeper than any virus, plague or war we might ever face. The absolute greatest foe to ever wage war on humanity was sin. It rules the hearts and minds of us all, until Jesus takes over as Lord and Savior. So, when Jesus say’s He’s overcome the world, and that we can have peace, the ultimate sense in which He accomplished this was at His cross and His resurrection. There, sin was crushed. The wrath that you and I deserved for sinning against Him was absorbed by the Son. Death was overcome, and a righteous record is given to all who place their trust in what He did. In Christ, we will NEVER be alone, and there is nothing to fear.