The pandemic of the coronavirus disease (called COVID-19) originated in China and spread to Europe and to the United Kingdom in late January 2020. The number of infected cases increased rapidly in March.
The statistics are that, as of 16 April 2020, there have been 103,093 confirmed UK infected cases with 13,729 (i.e. 13.3% of the infected cases) dying. However more than 90% of those dying are elderly or have underlying illnesses.
Personal Social Responsibility
So that with only 13.3% of infected people dying and with over 90% of them being elderly etc, it means that at the moment at least 74 out of every 75 of the general population that get infected will live. However that does not mean to say that we do not need to bother with social isolation because social isolation is definitely slowing down the spread of the disease.
What About the Elderly and Underlying Illnesses?
Well, what about the elderly and those with underlying illnesses? Should we bother with them? Genesis 1:26 “And God said, let us make man in our image (as God’s representative), after our likeness (so every human being in some way reflects God e.g. thinking, feeling and making)”. Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
God’s Care in Creation
While in Genesis 1 all the animals were made by the word of God’s mouth, when creating man God reached down and gathered some dust and sculptured it into a man. This shows God’s care and thoughtfulness in creating man. God also showed care in creating the woman. Genesis 2:21-22 “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; v22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” The image of God is a stamped on every human being regardless of ability and that makes them precious.
Honouring Your Parents
Also in Exodus 20:12 “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” To honour your parents includes taking care of them in old age when they should have wisdom to pass on to you. This was to be Israel’s new policy and would make them distinct from the rest of the nations around.
Our Current National Outlook
Coming back to coronavirus our national outlook seems, at the moment, dismal. Governments are passing restrictive laws and taking unexpected actions, including having to give out money for people’s living needs. Economies are reducing drastically. Companies and shops small and great, are reducing their activities or shutting down. Some manufacturers are changing to products to make masks and ventilators etc. Schools and colleges are closed and exams delayed or even cancelled.
Effects on Society
Holidays are being cancelled with airlines and travel, among other, companies needing financial support. Many people are now working from home do what will be the future of office work. The National Health Service (NHS) have had to take emergency action to try and react appropriately. The NHS staff are to be congratulated for doing a very good job in very difficult circumstances, when caring for the sick and some have died in the course of their duty. The staff in senior citizens homes are also to be congratulated for their care.
The reason is because this virus easily infects people and can badly harm and even kill people, mainly of older ages.
“Shutting Down So That Others Might Live”
A statistician from a university has recently worked out that if one person was infected and did not practise social isolation then in 6 weeks there would be 1,093 people infected.
However with social isolation that one person would only be 127 people infected.
So as to save life the whole population has accepted restricted freedom of movement and most public venues are closed.
However this does have its cost. Some losing jobs and there are economic uncertainties with that. Some people are now bored and boredom shopping is now noticed in the national statistics. Weddings have been delayed.
Others are very lonely and their relatives cannot visit them normally and sometimes not at all. Until 15 April 2020 no-one could visit relatives who were dying from Covid 19. When it comes to funerals, 10, or sometimes only 5, people can attend.
Fortunately we do have the internet and modern technology which makes contact with people a lot easier.
“Shutting Down So That Others Might Live”
However there was another shut down … but which has resulted in people being able to receive life.
The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world and lived in Israel for 33 years. He had good and bad experiences by the people around Him. He lived a perfect life but at the end of His life was falsely accused and taken to a Roman judge. The judge gave in to the rowdy crowd’s demand that the Jesus Christ was to be crucified. Jesus Christ was then cruelly treated and finally taken out to be crucified at Calvary, outside of Jerusalem. But on the cross “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”(1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
1Peter 2:24 says, “Who (Christ v21) his own self bare our sins (that is our sins’ judgment) in his own body on the tree (a description of the cross)”. Therefore God is able to offer us total forgiveness of sins. Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, … that they may receive forgiveness of sins” with no exceptions.
God Also Offers Eternal Life.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Therefore those that will recognise their sin before God and “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (as their Saviour from God’s judgment in hell for their sins), “and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Salvation is Secure and Forever
This salvation is forever as the Lord Jesus said in John 10:28 “And I give unto them (My sheep v27) eternal life; and they shall never perish (that is go to hell), neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
What Will Be Your Response?
Therefore whatever the circumstances in our society believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, i.e. Christians, can face the future with hope and courage because the Lord Jesus Christ is their unfailing Saviour. Wouldn’t you love that to be true of you? Then trust now completely in the Lord Jesus and He will save you forever.
The message was recorded on :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0WRdS2NI_Y