They year of 2020 has been marked with what has become a global pandemic due to the coronavirus that is plaguing our world. As of last week, there were nearly two million known cases, with almost 120,000 deaths and nearly 440,00 people who recovered from the virus. Serious efforts have been recommended to contain the spread of the virus, including shutdowns and stay at home orders in many places.
“Words from Above” in the Bible use the word “pestilence” to describe such epidemics, frequently used in prophetic books to speak of a visitation from God. The word is often associated with judgment and, with words like hurtful, plagues, annoying, hateful, and persuasive.
When King David conducted a census against the wishes of God, God sent a pestilence to bring judgment upon his people. When the people of Israel rebelled against God as they traveled through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land, God sent a pestilence to judge their rebellion and acts of immorality. However, God protected those who did not rebel against Him or commit acts of immorality.
We need to understand that not all pestilence is an act of judgment on the part of God, but when there is a pestilence in our world, we need to take a good hard look at ourselves to determine whether God has reason to judge us. In I Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul spoke about the need to examine ourselves when we are about to participate in the Lord’s Supper. He points out that if we eat the bread of communion, and drink the cup of communion unworthily, we are guilty of causing the death of Jesus. He says that those who eat and drink unworthily bring condemnation upon themselves. He concludes his discussion on the subject by saying that if we properly judge ourselves, God will not need to judge us.
In Matthew 24, the disciples of Jesus asked Him about the signs of His return. He said that there would be wars and rumors of wars, that nations shall rise against each other, and that there would be pestilences and earth-quakes in various places. He said that this would only be the beginning, and that believers will be hated and killed for putting their faith in Jesus. He said that people will betray one another and will hate on another, and that love for one another will grow cold. He concluded by saying that those who endure to the end would be saved. People often want to know the signs of the return of Jesus, but what is far more important is to make sure that we are ready for His return.
Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville. Everyone is welcome to attend. For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.
