Coronavirus in 3 PPPoints

The viral fear of virus may be worse than the virus itself. I’ll like to “score” three pastoral points about this issue.

1. We must be PRACTICAL. The health professionals I heard talking about the coronavirus pretty much say the same thing – prevention. Wash your hands a lot, use soap, take your time, don't touch your face with your hands, etc. Wearing a mask is not helpful unless you're actually sick. This is a time when the Health Reform that many Adventists did not carefully treasured, it’s paying its dividends. A plant-base diet combined with daily exercise builds a stronger immune system. One apple per day (add fresh greens, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts…) keeps the coronavirus away.

2. We must be PRAYERFUL, praying for people fighting the illness, praying for our families, for our neighbors and coworkers, for our church, for our nation. Do not let the fear of contamination take over the need of worshiping and praying together. The Lord can put a shield around us as a response to our prayers. Come to church, let’s worship and pray together, let’s encourage one other to aim for that day when the sin-virus is going to be eradicate once forever.  

3. We must PROCLAIM Jesus’ soon return, using the bad news around the virus’ panic as an opportunity to talk to people about the Good News. There are people freaking out around us and here's the thing – the Bible tells us in Philip 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The apocalyptic scenario in which “people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world” (Luke 21:26) that the Adventist evangelists for many years warned about it will happen as a sign of the end, is right here. Is more than same old fake news/ fear tactics - is like a sermon for all of us to really understanding the times we live in…

The followers of Christ who live for now down here, in this broken world, are fragile and vulnerable as everyone else, but on the other hand they are indestructible until God is done with them. 

I don’t know about you, but I don't want to walk around living in fear; I’m striving to live in faith. Isn’t that something you want also?