You will not fear

“nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” (Psalm 91:6)

 

Our surroundings are so cluttered in these days. There are many people who are sick, many people who die, and they are quite noisy about whether to be vaccinated or not. It’s not easy to determine correctly whose opinion is right or wrong. Many people wish a safe shelter of soul, but it doesn’t seem to be there like that around us. It is said in the Bible that “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” It’s difficult for birds to get out of the hunter’s trap and humans to avoid infectious diseases, but if they are under the protection of God, anybody will be able to live safely and peacefully in holy Spirit. I wish you to be men who go through wisely these difficult times within the salvation of Jesus Christ.

 

There are various kinds of reasons people feel fearful. Certain person who seems to be fine on the outside also may suffer from any fear. Fear makes people hard during the night but also in daytime. Yet there would feel more fearful during the night than in daytime. For the night is surrounded by darkness, so it is difficult to clearly distinguish things around one. When it’s not clear of whatever, people may have a fear. Murder occurs more in dark night than during the day. And many of crimes are prevalent at night in general. Therefore if possible, it’s better to stay in a safe place during the night or rest at home. That’s not to signify people don’t have any fear or are fully safe, during the day. For even in the bright daytime, evil spirits penetrate, confusing people’s souls and promoting anxiety and fear.

There have been sometimes fears of infectious diseases in history. As one of them, the Black Death, which had lasted for about 40 years in the 14th century, is said to had killed 25 million people, 1/3 of Europe’s population at the time. Then in the 17th century, the outbreak of the disease re-occurred in the UK, killing 70,000 out of 460,000 in London at the time. Also at the end of the 19th century, about 100,000 people died because of the disease in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong in China, followed by 10 million people around the world over the next 20 years. Likewise, the situation of COVID-19 that the world is experiencing now has already been over two years, and its power has not decreased and is spreading further.

The appearances of this times may be impressed pessimistic in conjunction with the gloomy situation of the end of the world. Although we don’t have to be pessimistic and afraid at all. Why, could we possible to say like that? Because the Creator as the Lord of all things, and the Lord of salvation has made me alive, and He is leading me under the protection. Even if a thousand or 10,000 people die around, disaster can’t come closer to me. Because our refuge is God the Lord Jehovah and Christ of salvation. Of course, people who believe in Jesus may also die of the epidemic. Because of that, they were evil-doers or cursed people, will you say? It is never. Rather, those people might have been allowed early to enter heaven to reduce the pain on the earth by being loved by the Lord. The interpretation on a matter of death or being alive can fully vary depending on personal viewpoint of faith’s understanding. An important thing people need to know is that if someone is a Christian with normal attitude of faith could not be afraid of infectious diseases or bodily death. Because, if he is really staying in Christ will fulfill only one’s duties in a peaceful manner without anxiety.

For God permits me alive on the earth, also the angels are guarding me according to the commands of the Lord. Even in dangerous situations, the Lord protects us with safe wings so that we do not fall or get hurt. God the Lord saves us not to be in harmful problems such as damages by vipers or lions. The reason why like that is that the Lord Jesus loved me and already rescued me. If a person who believes in Jesus does not have such a guarantee, it would be just thing meaningless and valueless to believe in Jesus. So, it is pitiable that a person who believes in Jesus shows a hesitant attitude of life because he is afraid of infectious disease or death.

 

The Lord saves and elevates me from difficulties or sufferings, and furthermore He answers to my prayers. And yet, sometimes the reason why the Lord makes me hard is to get me move to a better place by enlightening me. And the health and longevity given to me have an object in order to display to others the holy glory of the Lord. Therefore a man of Holy Spirit, who has rescued in Jesus Christ, belongs to the Lord, to die or to be alive, so he would do under the protection of the Lord and should boldly respond to all sufferings and diseases with a peaceful mind.

 

(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on Feb 6th 2022)