My realization with this covid-19…

My best friend Debs since from College days, asked our group chat (with my another 2 best friends also from College, Neth and Vi), about our realization with this covid-19. We all responded and this is my response (though of course I added more 😅).

What I learned in this pandemic crisis is we have no control of tomorrow. The plans that we have already set for our lives can turn into frustrations or disappointments. We don’t even know what will happen next. Life is like a mist or vapor we can be here today and gone tomorrow. We can’t even take anything with us when we leave the earth even how precious it is for us. James 4:13-15 says, “Listen, those of you who are boasting, “Today or tomorrow we’ll go to another city and spend some time and go into business and make heaps of profit!” But you don’t have a clue what tomorrow may bring. For your fleeting life is but a warm breath of air that is visible in the cold only for a moment and then vanishes! Instead you should say, “Our tomorrows are in the Lord’s hands and if he is willing we will live life to its fullest and do this or that.””

The good thing is even we don’t have the power to control, we have the power to surrender. We can surrender the uncertainties of our future to the all powerful and all knowing God. He is in charge, involved and in full control of what is happening around us. We have the assurance of His presence in the middle of the storms. Isaiah 54:10 says, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”

We are His valuable and precious creation. He always cares for us! He wants to have a relationship with us that’s why He sent His beloved Son Jesus Christ to die for us on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. 1 John 4:9 says, “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.” If we put our faith in Jesus, we have the security of eternal life with Him in heaven. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Life is so short, the average span we can live on earth is 70 to 90 years old and then we will lay our rest. We are all just temporary here on earth and we have only two destinations to go, either heaven or hell. But the good news is, if we have Jesus we have a secure place to go. A beautiful place with full of love, peace and joy! It is a permanent place for everyone who have received Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord! We will be with Jesus in a place where no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. Indeed there is life after death. We are citizens of heaven through Jesus Christ! He is our only way to the Father in heaven! Revelation 21:4-7 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.“

We are all looking forward to see this covid-19 to end soon. We are all fed up with the bad news, being lock down and restraints to go anywhere or even meet our loved ones and friends. We are hopeful that the government will lift the ban on social distancing so we can come back to our normal lives. We have many hopeful things in mind that we can‘t wait to happen now. We may feel helpless but we will never be hopeless if we have Jesus at the centre of our lives. 1 Peter 1:6-9 says, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.“

As we set our mind on the things above we will see that the depravity on earth is nothing can compare to the wonderful things to come for us who have Jesus in our lives. We have a blessed hope and victory because Jesus won the victory over sin and death. Colossians 3:1-4 says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.“

And yes, since we are still here on earth we need to fervently pray and ask His grace and mercy to heal our land and make it a better place for our children and the next generation to come. God is good and forever faithful! He will do amazing things for us, for now we only need to wait and trust that these things shall come to pass. The good thing to have Jesus as our Lord and Savior is we can always draw our strength, joy and peace from Him. We have our loving Daddy who is always comforting us and assure us of His great love and amazing grace. He is always an ever present help in times of need. He is our great Protector, Provider and Healer. Psalm 112:7 says, “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.“

Indeed, better days are ahead of us as we continue to hold on to the confession of our faith, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”

Prayer:
Father God, in the Name of Jesus, thank You for healing our land and making it a better place for us and to the next generation. Thank You for the realization that we can’t control what will happen to our world but we can surrender our worries, fears and anxiousness into Your mighty hands. We may never know when this pandemic crisis will end but we are certain that You are working on it for our good and for Your glory. We are so thankful that despite of the uncertainty we are facing right now, we have our confidence hope in You. We know that You can do all things and nothing is impossible with You. You are our Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper and Light in the darkness. We know that You are listening to the cry out of our hearts and we will see You glory shine in this situation. Lord, we know You have a great purpose for allowing this pandemic crisis to happen in the whole world and Your purpose will always prevail. Surely this covid-19 shall come to pass and we will come back to our normal lives, but Lord I pray that we will never be the same again. I pray that we are changed people who tasted and see Your goodness, faithfulness, mercy, grace and love in the middle of the storms. Father God, heal all those who are afflicted with the virus and may they encounter you on their situation. I pray that all Your people around the world will shine the light of Jesus and share the love, goodness and salvation of Jesus. Lord, strengthen and protect all the frontliners most especially the medical professionals while they are doing their job to help people cope up from their illness. Lord, give the government officials at all levels with wisdom on how to contain the virus while they are caring for the people. Lord, help and provide for those who are in need right now and sustain us as we wait and trust in You. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus I pray, amen.

The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying:“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV

But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments! The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. Psalm 103:17-19 NLT

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah40:28-31