Faith and Love in God in times of Covid -19
Greetings to the Church in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Hope we are all fine in the Corona virus crisis. Today we are facing another crisis in Chennai like the 2017 floods here, this too we shall overcome with the help of God.
Today I would like to share the difficulties that we faced during the flood in chennai in 2017 and how we came out of it taking the example of Job and how God will take care of us again in 2020.
In this time of Covid 2020, let us reflect on some of the difficulties and losses that we face:
Jobs:
Some of us may have lost our jobs or maybe on the verge of losing our jobs because of the economic downturn that we are going through right now. Those of you who are still going to office and working from whom can consider yourself lucky. There are some who are fired from the job or on leave without pay for the next few weeks. They do not even know how they are going to pay their rent or how they are going to manage their food. Some of them are earning only around Rs 10,000, and with half the month’s pay on leave without pay may take home only around Rs 5,000 which they will have to pay for Rent leaving them with nothing for food but their Faith in God and
Fear
Some of us here watching this sermon are worried and fearful and in parannoia
Hoarding:
In america they are hoarding toilet paper, sanitizer and such and in some places in the world they are Hoarding Rice Bags, and when I say hoarding, they are not hoarding 2-3 rice bags buy 6-12 bags of rice. It’s a crazy world that we live in right now, a dog eat dog world where some are hoarding all for themselves without leaving for neighbours while some are hoarding to sell it off at a higher rate taking advantage of the misfortune of other’s. What a world that we live in.
Finance
The stock market has never seen any kind of volatility as such which is seen before, it has nosedived based upon fear and has reached new record lows.
Depression
Many of us have been told to work from home and stay away from socializing. Some of us may have developed depression and fear in our daily lives but it’s important that we have the captian in control
I would like to share a small testimony of my own during the Chennai floods in 2017.
I had taken Wednesday off to take my in laws for a check up to CMC Vellore for a Medical Checkup, the weather was cloudy and slightly drizzling but since it was not a heavy rain, I thought of taking the Muduchur bypass, which was almost a grave mistake with water level on the road almost 2-3 feet level or upto the thighs, but with fast acceleration and a bit of luck, we had passed through the water logged road. After successfully finishing the checkup, near Sriperambudur, there was a heavy jam on the road, we were caught up in a very long traffic jam where in we sat out for about 2-3 hours, later we came to know that the road was almost 6 feet deep and there would be no way to pass through, luckily for us, again, there were some volunteers who braved the rain and convinced the big vehicles like Trucks and Bus to make way to the side so that a few of us with small vehicles could turn around and be on our way towards Chennai. As we shared a single lane with the incoming traffic, the road was narrow and the driving was rash, and I got a small dent on the car but I guess that was a small price to pay for safety. After calling up our friends inside the city, we were informed that the road to our house would not be accessible at all as it was flooded all around. We started stopping at all the inns and Hotels on the way but none of them could accommodate us as all the rooms were full. After searching for rooms from 12:00 am onwards, we finally found a hotel room in the city around 3:00 AM, probably all the train and flight cancellations played a big role in all the hotel rooms being full, also many people whose house were flooded probably camped out in Hotels. The next day we decided that we some how must reach to our children, there were no auto’s around and the auto’s that were there charged an exorbitant rate. I walked about 5 km from the Hotel in Nungambakkam to Kotturpuram Bridge, I was able to get into the Bridge but there was a very fast flowing current which made it all but impossible to cross at that point, not wanting to give up, I again walked 4 km Saidapeth bridge as people said there was a chance of crossing it, but Saidapeth bridge and the surrounding area was completed flooded making it all but impossible to cross the river by walking or by vehicle. Then it hit upon me that I had not tried the MRTS train from Beach to Velachery, so I had another very long 6km hike from Saidapeth to Mylapore where I finally arrived in Thirmaliya Railway Station. I was already willing to walk on the elevated railway tracks, but luckily for me, the train was operating and I was able to reach Velachery without much of a problem. The view of the mighty adyar river flowing under the bridge was a sight to behold, the river was overflowing it’s banks and had flooded many of the houses on the banks. Once I reached Velachery, I thought it would be a cakewalk to reach home as it is not more than 6 kms even by walk from there.
The sight I saw in velachery blew my mind, the flyover between the railway station and the flyover near Kamakshi hospital was filled with water atleast 4 feet all over, and it was already around 5 dusk, the water was cold, the weather cloudy and the rains drizzling, I reluctantly stepped into the water and made my way, sometimes walking on the median which was a bit higher. I could hear dogs howling in pain and in fear on top of vehicles and cars. There were very few of us going towards the flood prone area whereas a majority of the people were moving towards the railway station to avoid the flood, I could see some families camped out in the railway station with bedding and cooking stoves when I had left the station. It was painful to see small children prodded by their parents made to sit on blown tyre tubes moving towards the city, frightful adult women fearfully walking on the water above their waist tightly holding their husband and loved ones, some carrying their dogs. Most of them had a rucksack or a backpack where they probably packed their money, cred, debit card, phone, charger and maybe just a few change of clothes. And yes, the flood water had over flown many vehicles and two petrol bunks on the way, the water was basically a mixture of petrol, diesel, drainage and faeces all around which was not a pleasant sight. I was just hoping I do not step into some snake or some carless person lights up a cigarette and drops it into the water. The water near Kamakshi Hospital was a bit deeper, hence I Held out my hand so that my watch, wallet and phone were not wet. After a long days track, I was dragging my feet the last 2-3 kilometres home and was happy and thankful that my home was dry and most of all to see the happy faces of my children welcoming me home.
Reaching home, I felt that I had witnessed some kind of unreal Hollywood disaster movie which would be toally unrealistic but the fact was that it was reality. So far Chennai has not reached Wuhan or Italy proportions and hopefully we do not but now let us look at a great person from the Bible, Job and how he overcomes even greater obstacles in his life and faith.
In times of Difficulties, let us remember that:
1. The Pain and difficulties of the world are not going to disappear just because of our Faith in God.
Look at Job, he underwent all kind of trials and tribulations and even when his friends and yes, his wife told him to condemn God, He refused. He was steadfast and strong in his faith of God inspite of all the pain that he went through.
Job 1: 18,19
18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Job 2:9,10
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish[a] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
In all this troubles and difficulties that we face, maybe a flood or Pandamic like cornavirus, are we going to panic and be fearful or are we going to be unwavering like Job and have strong faith in God. 2017 Flood, then Cyclone and now Corona next, are we going to be ready for other signs of God’s second coming? Have anyone of us lost our son’s , daughters or family members because of the Virus, if not then let’s be thankful to God for his mercy and protection.
2. When we face trouble, we will not know why we are facing that difficulty?
If we study the book of Job, we find that Job was a perfect and mature person, a person that even God was confident enough to let Satan tempt him. And the trial and tribulation that Job went through was very severe but he was still steadfast and unwavering in his faith of God even in the face of death.
Floods, Earthquakes and Plagues such as conoravirus does not discriminate rich and poor, or even rich an poor countries like in the case of the virus spreading across Asia, Europe and Africa. Let us remember that God never gives us trials and temptation that we cannot withstand. At the same time let us not judge others who are undergoing death and misfortune at this moment and say that they are reaping the outcome of their sins. Instead, let us continue to pray for them.
3. Let us learn to Praise God in our times of trouble and tribulation.
It’s easy on our part to be happy and thankful and say Praise to the Lord on our Birthdays, Wedding Anniversaries, Christmas or New Year but it becomes difficult to praise God when we face trouble. Job was a great example, in spite of the difficulties and hardship that he faced, he was able to praise God.
Job was reassured and confident that God was protecting him and was assured of his Salvation through Christ, he was not afraid to sacrifice his life for God because he knew that God was going to return to take us back home. He has a strong faith in God.
Job 19:25- 27
25 I know that my redeemer[a] lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[b]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet[c] in[d] my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[b]
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet[c] in[d] my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
4. Trials, tribulations and Disasters brings us closer to God.
Job may not have known but because of the tribulations he went through God knew the kind of person he was. To purify Gold you need to smelt in fire. To get closer to God we have to purify ourselves through the difficulties that we God through life.
Let’s take a roll call of some of the famous names in Bible.
David – unfaithful with Bathsheba
Moses – killed that Egyptian
Jacob – Cheated Esau
But there were also those who saw God’s power and were near God but did not change.
1. Pharaoh – He saw all the miracles but his heart was not moved.
2. King Juda, King Saul and others in the Old Testament
3. Juda Iscariot - Betrayed God.
Let us choose whose side we are going to be?
L
So Finally how are we going to get through this Coron or Covid 19 Trial and Temptation
1. Prayer – Let us pray for each other unceasingly, prayer can do thing. Let us Pray for China, Let us Pray for Italy and let us pray for other countries which are going through the global epidemic. Let us pray for Kerala, Delhi and Maharashtra which are worst affected by the epidemic.
2 Chronicles 7:13-15
13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
there is no rain – in Australia
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/no-rain-until-may-forecasters-warn-that-there-will-be-no-significant-rainfall-for-six-months-as-experts-warn-of-worst-bushfire-season-ever/ar-AAK004U
or command locusts – In Pakistan - https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/pakistans-locust-plague-becomes-as-big-as-coronavirus/worst-locust-attack-in-decades/slideshow/74706969.cms
send a plague – coroann from Wuhan
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/china/
2. Helping others - Let us not be satisfied with only praying for others but also trying to be helpful to others. Some of the things that we can do at this time of epedemic are:
a. Check on High Risk neighbours: Older adults and people with serious chronic Medical conditions.
b. Not to Panic
c. Wash our hands
d. Stay At Home and practisce Social Distancing, Do not Gather in Groups
Lev 13:21
21 But if, when the priest examines it, there is no white hair in it and it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to isolate them for seven days.
e. Do not Hoard, make sure that that there is enough food and medicine in the neighbourhood.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
3. Lastly, let us not forget, he is Coming back – Most importantly, let us remember that Jesus Christ is coming back to take us back home. Let us be calm and be prepared for it.
Matthew 24:7-8
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Nation shall rise against nation – India and Pakistan, China and USA
Pestilances - plague like Corna Virus
Pestilances - plague like Corna Virus
Famine – Caused by Plague
Earthquakes – Nepal, South America etc
So in this end times, let this end time signs strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ to be ready to meet him for the second coming. Let us go through these test of faith with the reassurance that God is always there to Protect and Save us.
Amen
