FEAR

          What is FEAR? In the dictionary the noun is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. The verb is to be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening. We all have faced some type of FEAR in our lives, from the first time trying to walk as baby, learning to ride a bike, learning to swim, learning something new in school, driving a car, starting a new job etc. Some have faced even worse fears like cancer, someone dying, loss of employment, car accident etc. I don’t think many of have faced a fear such as this COVID-19. It is causing a Global Pandemic. If you look at John Hopkins website tracking the virus, literally the entire world is red with infection. This is like watching a movie unfold in real life but unlike a movie, real people are dying and at the end of the 2 hour movie the world is usually saved and we all survive.
          The COVID-19 is currently the smartest killer virus ever formed. It is unseen, endures for days on different objects, can be in your body for weeks, can infect others without knowing, and can be spread through the air and close contact. Once infected you can feel perfectly fine or if it decides to rapidly destroy every system in your body it can. This virus has no respect for laws of man, nature or medicine. Every age group from newborn to elderly can get this virus and who lives and dies is unknown. I have seen it effect every organ system. It causes breathing issues, causes strokes in the brain, clots in the body, kidney damage and heart attacks/strain. Once intubated there is a low probability that you could survive. There is poor testing to even detect it and we are in a war with no weapons against it. We are literally in the testing phase as we try multiple treatments on different patients. This virus exploits our lack of resources, poor communication between countries, government officials, hospital administrators and even treatment strategies among physicians. Even if you are infected and survive we have no idea if the antibodies will protect us if we get re-infected. It spreads fear as we are all afraid to infect our family members who we live with from elderly adults, children and spouse. It forces us into isolation. This is a horror/sci-fi movie we are currently living through.
          This reminds me of the famous story seen in Mathew, Mark and Luke about Jesus calming the storm. We will look at Mark 4:35-41 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” The disciples had been traveling, praying, in fellowship and seeing the amazing miracles Jesus was doing throughout the New Testament. Yet they did not trust Jesus at this moment and let fear sneak into their hearts. Jesus showed his power over nature and calmed the storm. It is to remind us that fear can not defeat the cross and Jesus will always be triumphant.
          This Sunday is Easter and it a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the 3rd day after his crucifixion. They mocked Jesus  as a king when he really was The King. They said he was powerless when He really was all powerful. They said he cried out in despair when He was really trusting God. They said He couldn’t save Himself when he really was saving others. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would be persecuted, die for our sins and rise on the 3rd day (Isaiah 53). Jesus conquered death and left the Holy Spirit to defeat Fear. Romans 8:15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
          As the famous song goes “No Longer a Slave to Fear”, Jesus has broken the chains of death and conquered the grave. Your perfect love has freed us from the bondage of Fear. We have seen miracles throughout the Bible of how powerful our God is from splitting the read sea, healing the blind and deaf, bringing Lazarus back to life, Jesus walking on water and conquering death. This virus has turned the world upside down and changed our routine completely. We can take some good things that have come out of the pandemic; more family time, work is not as important, learning to teach our children, cooking together, going out for walks, focusing on health, not needing to eat out as often and wasting money on unnecessary things. We can also use the time to concentrate more on God as He has literally shutdown the world. Only necessary things are open currently like Hospitals, Groceries and Banks. All the distractions in the world have been taken away and He is giving us the chance now more than ever to be closer to Him. Government, armies, nuclear weapons, celebrities, sports athletes can do nothing when God decides our future. Fear has no power of the FAITHFUL. Prayer/Faith is more powerful than this Virus because I know our God is listening. We will never know God’s plan but we know He is in control. Fear will never defeat God and we need to focus on God now more than ever.