04/01/2020
In this time of Coronavirus , complete with its “Safer at Home”, and “Social Distancing”, mandates, Pastors and churches have for the most part complied with these ordinances, but with tithes dwindling, and bills to pay, there is a temptation to go ahead with normal church activities by convincing ourselves, and our members, that as believers, and people of faith, God will miraculously protect us, and treat us differently than others. Satan tried to convince Jesus to behave in this same manner during his third temptation when he tried to convince Christ to throw Himself from the pinnacle of the temple. Jesus resisted by refusing to “tempt the Lord”. Are we prepared to face the consequences of tempting God by our actions today? Actions that don’t mirror those of Jesus?
“And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Luke 4:12 KJV
Exposing ourselves to viruses and plagues to prove God’s faithfulness is testing, or tempting God. Daniel was protected from the lions, but he didn’t throw himself into the lion’s den. On Passover blood was placed on the doorposts, but no Jew left the blood off his door to test the Lords resolve to kill only the firstborn of the Egyptians. Neither should we place ourselves in harm’s way to tempt God, or put Him to a test. When we do this we are presuming ourselves to be His judge... to be above Him.
“(For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.”
Deuteronomy 6:15-16 KJV
God placed us in a world governed by natural laws, and those laws include the nature of, plagues, viruses, parasites, germs, and such. All of these have natural life cycles. By understanding this we can predict the spread of illnesses, and the affects that they will have on us. They are as natural as the rain, and just like the rain they fall on the just and unjust, so plagues effect us all the same.
“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:45 KJV
When biblical droughts came they were just as dry, and devastating, for the good people as they were for the bad. Good people died right alongside the bad. Sometimes God performed miracles, or led His people to places of safety like He did with Joseph and Jacob, but this was not the normal course of things... and other people were left behind. One thing is certain, miracles and droughts alike always occur to glorify God. So whether it is our family, or our Church, we should honor God, and provide safety for them by acknowledging, and obeying, God’s natural laws by living according to them.
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
1 Timothy 5:8 KJV
Today we face a natural plague in the COVID-19 virus, and it has a very specific lifecycle that includes the manner by which it spreads. It will infect the good people of the church, as well as the infidels. Will God perform a miracle and save some believers from this virus? Well, I don’t presume to know His will regarding that, but for my part I will honor His creation, and not tempt, or test, Him by my actions. If He chooses to save me and my family, then I will praise him, and give Him all the glory... but I will not test or tempt my God. How will you behave during this crisis?
“And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Luke 4:9-12 KJV
Prayer:
Father I thank you for your protection, and provision, and I thank you equally for the water you provide me to drink, and the lion who lays in wait at the watering hole. Your hand is upon me Father, and I call out to you to protect me and my family, but I will not test you in this, unless that be your will, and you speak it to me. All the plagues, and the droughts, are by your hand, just as you bring the times of plenty. Help me to see you in the fevers that come upon us, just as surely as I see you in the cool rain that waters the fields, and fills the rivers. Keep us from temptation Father, and never let us tempt or test you by challenging your commandments and laws. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God before whom I lay prostrate, and worship. Great are you, and I will honor you in all things by my obedience. I praise your name Merciful Lord, and accept your will without challenge, or test. I worship you in my fields that are lush, green, and bountiful, just as I worship you when they are parched, withered, and barren. Hear my prayers Lord, and have mercy on me and my family. Let your grace flow over me without my challenging you in it.
Lord, today a plague is spreading over the land, and we ask your protection against it. Teach us how we should best behave so that we can avoid its infectious nature, and remain healthy Lord. We lift up our families, our churches, and our country. We ask you to lead us through this time of sickness and death, so that we will be stronger in our love and faith in you, and Jesus Christ, when it has run its course, and we no longer suffer from it. Just and good are you Father, and we trust in your nature, and place ourselves at your feet... calling out in prayer for your mercy.
“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
James 5:17-20 KJV
Rich Forbes