The coronavirus reminds us of valuable truths

Many scholars believe the first New Testament book was written by James. James was the half brother of Jesus. He faithfully pastored the church in Jerusalem for ten years. Persecution swept in and scattered the Jerusalem church. James wrote to remind his readers of very familiar truths.

The Corona virus has greatly impacted our lives. The virus reminds us of two truths found in James 4:13-14. James writes, “Come now you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. “

The first truth is that life is uncertain. James says, “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.” James is writing of a business person. The man worked and prepared and planned. He did many things right but life is uncertain. Six months ago no one imagined the events of this time. Life is uncertain.

Many years ago they asked Napoleon, “Which side is God on?” He arrogantly answered, “The side with the heaviest artillery.” After his defeat at Waterloo and his exile, he humbly answered, “Man proposes but God disposes.” Life is uncertain.

The second truth is that life is short. Verse 14 reads, “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” Life is described as a vapor or a fog. The morning suns burns away the fog and it is gone. Job said, “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle” (Job 7:6). As a weaver’s shuttle rapidly goes back and forth so our lives swiftly pass. Job 8:9 says, “Our days on earth are as a shadow.” A shadow does not last long! Psalm 78:39 says, “Thus He remembered that they were but flesh- a wind that passes and does not return.” The wind comes and the wind goes.

Life is uncertain and life is short. We have certainly seen this in recent events. However, tragedy and difficulty are not limited to our age. Many years ago they asked Jesus about two disasters in His time. One was an accident. The other was manmade. A tower in Siloam fell and killed eighteen people. Some Galileans came to sacrifice at the temple and Pilate killed them.

Jesus said, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:2-5).

What is Jesus saying? He is saying that disasters are God’s wake up call to every one of us. Dying physically is not the worst fate. Far worse is to die spiritually. Jesus was not being cruel or heartless. He was warning us of a far worse fate than dying of a virus. Far worse is to die and not be prepared to meet our Creator.

Romans 2 says that the goodness of God should lead us to repentance. God’s mercy and patience should never be viewed as weakness. God is holy and must punish sin. He waits for us to turn to Him in repentance.

Our real enemy is sin because sin separates us from God. The gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins. His resurrection demonstrates it was a perfect sacrifice. The gospel is an announcement. Peace with God is available through His Son Jesus. The gospel is a command. We must be saved! The gospel is an invitation. We must turn to God today and put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus.

The coronavirus is the black velvet backdrop that highlights the importance of the gospel. Not to manipulate or be emotional or raise fears but if you contracted the virus and died, are you right with God? Jesus said in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

To be poor in spirit means that we are spiritual beggars. We are destitute in God’s eyes. We must stop living in denial. We are sinners who need a Savior. Our sin demands judgment. Thankfully Jesus also said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6). As a starving person longs for food and a dehydrated person longs for water, we need to ask God to save us. The promise is that we will be satisfied. God’s perfect righteousness will be given to us.

Life is uncertain and life is short. The difficulties and brevity of life remind us that a much better day is coming for God’s people! May we work hard and plan and prepare but never forget the importance of eternity.

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.