Hope and encouragement during the pandemic

 Every time my phone pings, invariably it’s the message of one more person testing positive, or someone’s situation has become worse, and maybe once a day, somebody has died. The news of someone’s recovery is dwarfed by all the other news that makes you feel depressed. No beds, no oxygen cylinders, no ambulances, no doctors, nurses, etc. I open the news feed, Twitter, etc. and I get to visualize this great tragedy - ambulances, crying relatives…. sometimes you wish you were born in a different period in history.

मैं अपने देश को देखता हूं और रोता हूं। मुझे मेरे घुटनों पर लाया गया है | मेरे खुदा तुम कहाँ हो?

I look at my nation and weep…. I have been brought to my knees. My God where are you? 

How do I find my footing in a time like this? What if the next phone call is the message of someone very close struggling to breathe? What if, this night, I start developing symptoms? 

Where can I put my hope? What can I hold on to during a time like this? 

My friend, I know the hope during this time. I know the truth that can set us free. It can’t be found in the solutions this world offers but in the person of Jesus Christ. 

A virus more dangerous than coronavirus is sin. His best friend is death. Sin is an attitude of rebellion towards the God who designed us to be with Him. My pride, my anger, my jealousy, my greed, my lustful desires, etc. shoot out of my heart that’s enslaved by the power of sin. At the end of my road, I come face-to-face with the great adversary - death. Fear of pain, fear of what’s going to happen to me next, fear of my loved ones I am leaving behind. Fear… the greatest crippler and troubler of my heart.

Simply, there’s nothing I can do to free myself from the shackles of sin. And so, I fear death. I don’t know what’s going to happen to my soul the second I die. The grip of death can be a rude shock to us. How can I not fear?

“Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I WILL NOT fear, for YOU ARE with me” Psalm 23:4. 

I need not fear death because Jesus took the punishment for sin that was meant for me upon Himself. The punishment - death. I was freed from this punishment But because He lived a sinless life, His life became the perfect sacrifice, death was reversed in His case and He rose again from the dead! Why did He do that? Because He loves us - that’s the only way a sinful man can be brought back to a Holy God. He has promised that all who believe in His work will remain with Him in the life after death. Not a completely unknown future. A future where there is no more death, crying, pain nor suffering. A place where we will be with Him eternally. 

So death or life is a win-win situation. If I live, I get to live for Him and tell His wonderful good news to others. If I die, I see Him face-to-face. 

What about the family that I leave behind? Won’t they suffer? Yes. It’s a terrible, unspeakable pain of separation for those who lose a loved one. My consolation is that this is temporary - till they are called home as well. Second, the God who created this universe and watches over it will take care go them. He will be their comfort, their consolation, a Father to the fatherless, their protector, provider, and sustainer. So, I truly need not fear death, nor COVID, nor cancer nor anything else - truly nothing can separate us from the wonderful love of God!. 

Why, my soul, are you downcast?

    Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

    for I will yet praise him,

    my Savior, and my God.

Ps. 42:5