Living in a Pandemic

Leviticus 11–12; Psalms 13–14; Proverbs 26; 1 Thessalonians 5

How are Christians supposed to live in days like these? Some are supposing that this is just the beginning of what they call “the end times” without realizing that the Bible says since Christ ascended to heaven, we are already in the end times. This pandemic is raising many fears and many questions for everyone yet as God’s child, I am supposed to be aware of what will be going on when “the end” draws near. From these verses, I’m given clues and also instruction and comfort regarding my behavior and thoughts.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)

According to this, Jesus will not show up when everyone is agitated and fearful but when they feel at peace and secure. That means this pandemic likely is not it. He is going to return, but His Word says it will be unexpected, not predictable. However, that gives me no excuse to not think about it or be oblivious to these words. He can show up anytime, and for that reason, I’m supposed to be always ready — as if today is the day.

Faith, hope and love are to be my garments, worn every day, virus threat or not. I’m to be deeply aware that my salvation is real and when I die, no matter what causes that death, I will live with Jesus forever. In the meantime, I’m to encourage others — not with platitudes or witty cartoons or anything else but the truth that one day, whether the virus gets us or something else, we who believe will spend eternity with Jesus Christ.

This passage says to build one another up. That refers to encouraging faith and hope. Here is the Bible’s instruction on how to do that:

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (Romans 15:1–2)

This is clear to me: God’s Word builds me up (brings me closer to completion) and I can build others up by using it, and by doing things that help others move closer to the maturity of any Christian — which is to be like Jesus. Do it this way:

. . . respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you . . . esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves . . . admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:12–24)

APPLY: I’m not sure how to react to those who think helping others means giving them some inane information other than hitting the delete button, but God makes it clear what I’m supposed to do. Maturity means being like Jesus, loving others and directing them to the promise of eternal life, the joy of walking in the Spirit and being fruitful in this life. It means caring about the heart and nourishing the soul with truth that is eternal. For this, I need the grace of God and the fullness of His Spirit.