Christians and Covid 19

As we approach the hopeful end to the Covid lockdown, I have to ask, "How has your faith fared?"  "Has it flourished or floundered during this crisis?"  "What are the implications for the future of the Church and its relationship to the world?"  And probably most importantly, "What should our attitude be going forward?"  
This is a Biblical look at the Christians response to the events surrounding Covid-19.

Transcript

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Hey, everybody. I want to welcome everyone to our podcast this week. And the title of the podcast is the Bible and thoughts about Covad 19 the last couple of weeks I've shared with you 10 podcast over the Passion Week. It was a sort of baptism by fire and starting this, um, broadcast. And, of course, one of the main reason I decided to do podcast was because of Cove in 19 and the ban on gatherings of more than 10 people in all of that. As you recall, started as a recommendation from the White House at a press conference. That was, uh, well, last last year. Sometime? Well, no, it just feels like it was last year. Sometime it was March 16th and we were already aware that something was going to happen because the last day of school before spring break, which was march 12th I actually said to another teacher, If things keep going like they are, we won't be coming back after a break. Well, that was on a Thursday, and before Sunday came the pastor of our Spanish congregation texted toe, Ask if we were having church services. I responded emphatically, I might add if you can respond emphatically in a text. Yes, What I wanted to write was yes, Why wouldn't we? I mean, fear was already starting to girl among some of our people about the virus. But I had read the articles. I had watched the newscast. So I went into the pope. It that Sunday, with a message directed at the fear. And the point of my sermon was that we should not. If we're Christians, be a fearful people. The major points of my sermon were a list of things that a Christian shouldn't fear. I compiled that list from a search in the Bible of all the places that the word fear we're afraid were used. And the things that a Christian shouldn't fear included things like poverty, government, people, disaster, war And, of course, finally, death. And I incorporated loss of faith inspiring verses like Psalm 53 6 that says Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you. Second Timothy, 17 for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Isaiah's 12. To behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid for ya. The Lord is my strength and song. He also has become my salvation. Now the point behind that sermon was not to encourage our members to say, You know, this is stupid. I'm not going to get sick. I'm not going to die. We realistically our church is an older congregation. And there's one thing that they have taught me and that is that any of us could die at any time. Our lives are in God's hands now. That doesn't mean we don't take precautions against illness. It doesn't mean that we have a flippant attitude about danger or disease. I mean, we go to the doctor, we follow his or her directions, but ultimately we trust God with the number of our days. Well, I knew going to services that Sunday that our numbers were going to be down. I had told people, if you're sick or if you have existing conditions that put you at risk and stay home and in my heart I was thinking. But we're having church and we did with the congregation about 1/3 of his normal size. Well, it was on March 16th after the presidential press conference that we, along with the majority of churches in the nation, cancelled services for the next two weeks. But I let it be known that unless they continued the recommendation against gathering, we would be back to church April 5th, Palm Sunday. In the meantime, of course, school was closed for the 2019 2020 year we had the toilet paper run and everything else that happened, and we haven't had church services since that Sunday, and now we're hopeful that we might be able to reopen for services on Sunday, May 10th. So what, you may ask prompted being now to put together this podcast about Covad 19 and the Bible. I mean, it's not as though I haven't had some thoughts about the how the two subjects relate to each other over the previous month. It's not as though there haven't been plenty of opportunities to jump into conversations about it. Well, the reason I'm jumping in now with this sermon is because we may be going back to church services soon. But my question is, how are we going back with what attitude are we going back? And I have witnessed two emotions from Christians that can be destructive. That can influence how we return to church, and they are the emotions of fear and anger. Course. Many are still fearful about the virus or maybe fearful about the government reaching into our lives. Others are angry, maybe about the government or the long term effect of this virus on our economy, and there are some legitimate reasons to be fearful and or angry. But my fear is that these emotions will dominate even the minds of Christians because I believe that we are too strongly invested in this world and its system. So what should our thoughts be? Well, if we look at the Bible, we know that we are to be a people with different thoughts than the world. The Bible says about God in Isaiah 55 8 for my thoughts are not your thoughts and your ways air, not my ways. And since as followers of Jesus Christ, God is making us like him, since we are to be holy as he is holy, our thoughts are to be different than the world's. Our ways are to be different than the world's. To put it, frankly, we shouldn't be joining the world in its anger and fearfulness. So with all that in mind, I wanted to give you a look into what the Bible has to say regarding Cove in 19 and the events that have transpired and responds to it, and I am advocating for a Christian attitude about it. So let me propose some attitudes to replace fear and anger about our world and this crisis in the future. The attitudes on proposing are these thoughtfulness, thankfulness, watchfulness, faithfulness and humility. And they all come straight from the scripture. Let's look at the first of those today thoughtfulness. So here we go. A Christian should approach the future with thoughtfulness. We should think about the world differently than others do. We shouldn't be floating down the same stream as our unbelieving neighbors. In fact, very often our thoughts will be going against the current. They should be contrary to what we're hearing around us and let me show you two biblical reasons. Why are thoughts should be different than those around us? First we know the truth, and second, the world is full of lies. So first God in Jesus Christ is the source of all truth and we know the source of the truth. The one and only truth. Moses recorded the words of God in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 34 Verse six. He said this yeah, way past by before him and proclaimed Yeah, way, Yeah, Way merciful and gracious God slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness and truth. In other words, God has a whole lot of truth. This almost calls on God to guide me in your truth and teach me for you are the god of my salvation. I wait for you all day long, Jesus said to the woman at the well. But the hour comes and now is when the true worshippers will worship the father in spirit and truth for the father seeks such to be his worshippers and, of course, to his disciples. Jesus said in John 14 6 I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. So our source for the truth and I mean the whole truth and nothing but the truth is God's word. The Bible. Now this should go without being said, but there are too many who profess to know Christ, who know very little about Christ, who informed their thoughts, decisions and words mawr from memes and gifs than from the word of God. There are some who spend more time listening to the news broadcast each day than they spend in the word and prayer. And if you want to stay fearful and angry, just fill yourself up. With all this being said about Cove in 19 out there, it's all anger and fear. We need to remember that Scripture says that whatever we fill our minds with becomes who we are. Proverbs 23 6 through seven, says Do not eat the bread of a miser nor desire his delicacies for, as he thinks in his heart. So is he for, as he thinks, in his heart, so is he. Boy, hasn't this last month made a test of that? This last month has really revealed your heart, hasn't it? I mean, let me ask you has all this alone time this non movement time lead you to a deeper walk with God or a deeper dive into the world. But instead we're to follow Paul's admonition in Philippians 48 where he says, finally, brethren whatever things are true. Whatever things air, noble, whatever things are just whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. We need to go into the coming days with godly thoughtfulness. Now regarding an attitude of thoughtfulness, There's a second reason that our thoughts should be different than the world's. It is because this world is under the Dominion of Satan and Satan is a liar. My friends, this may shock you, so brace yourself. But the world is full of lies and liars. They are on the Internet. They're on TV. They're on radio, behind podiums. They're in politics, both parties. They're behind a newscasters desk there in world organizations there in the health profession, they're living next door and they're in your house. The reason I could say that is because we are all by nature liars now does that mean that everything that comes from everyone's mouth is a lie? It means that to one degree or another, we all season are statements to suit our needs. Everyone does it. They may not even be aware that they're lying. Let me demonstrate that to you, biblically. Jesus said to his opponents in John, Chapter eight, Verse 44. You are of your father, the devil and the desires of your father You want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie he speaks from his own resource is for he is a liar and the father of it. And my friend Satan is the driving force behind this world and its systems. He is a liar, so he will influence all of them. To speak lies as this almost despaired. All men are liars now. Those who are not Christians speak lies because their father the devil is a liar. But what about Christians? Well, Ephesians, Chapter two, Verse one through three. Paul describes the state of believers when he says, And you he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked according to the course of this world. According to Prince of Power of the Air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience. In other words, he said. Before you came to Christ, you were under the Dominion of Satan, just like everybody else. But after you come to Christ, then you have the spirit of God implanted in you. Paul is saying to the Ephesians, Christians, you used to be like men and women of the world. You were under the thumb of Satan, the prince and power of the air. So you like the devil were a liar. And as long as we have that old sinful nature in us, we're continually drawn back to that lower nature. As Paul wrote in another place that which I don't want to do, I end up doing our human nature, wants to join the world in the telling of lies. So in this point, what does being thoughtful mean? What does thoughtfulness mean? It means this as a believer. It's our call to think God's thoughts, not the world's God's thoughts are truth. So if we're to be thoughtful in this world, were to be full of God's thoughts and the understanding of them and the understanding of the world that it is full of lies, that means that you need to have a healthy skepticism about what you hear again. I should hardly have to say this, but the world is full of lies and liars. Everywhere you turn, somebody is lying. And in this information age in which we live, lies have multiplied exponentially. I mean, Denise and I were talking about it this week. We read articles on Facebook. We check news sites and it seems that everyone is shaving the truth in order to support their cause or belief system. And our question was, Who can you believe? And most of us don't have the time toe search out the truth regarding every bit of news that we get. So it eventually leads us to where we are now. In regard to the truth, many people today simply believe their guy and disbelieve the other guy. My sources, right. Yours is not now. Am I saying that every word that proceeds from the mouth of a non Christian is a lie? No. But there, like their father, Satan, who mixes 99% truth with 1% lie in order to deceive. But as a Christian, the attitude of thoughtfulness should tell us that all men are liars. The preacher Are you saying that I can't trust my doctor or my lawyer, etcetera. Well, that's where a healthy skepticism comes in. I mean, tell me this. If you get a call or an email asking for your Social Security number, do you automatically give it to whoever asked? I hope not, but I'm sure that most of you wrote your Social Security number on this year's tax return. Yet most of us are suspicious of the I. R s. So what happens is we learn how to work in a world full of liars. We know they're all around us, but we have to learn to live in the world. We are not of this world. It's like an old saying. The only man a girl can trust is her daddy hit. A lot of people have expressed doubts about that, but for the Christian, the only one that they can trust to be totally truthful is God. So as a Christian, we had to be discerning. That's what thoughtfulness means, Hebrews, 5 14 says. But solid food belongs to those who are a full age. That is, those who, by reason of use, have their senses exercise to discern both good and evil. That means that we never just react to something we've heard. We don't fire off 50 males for reposed to all our friends without checking for truthfulness. We're like the Bavarians in the Bible Book of Acts, Chapter 17 that says these were more fair minded than those in Veselin ICA in that they received the word with all readiness and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so they didn't just trust what they were hearing. They searched for the truth in the word of God. Oh, that Christians would be more discerning that they would not believe everything they hear or see, even if it's on the news that they would not forward every rumor or call for vengeance every time they hear some evil news, we need to have an attitude of thoughtfulness. We also need to have an attitude of thankfulness. I'm amazed at how hysterical some believers have gotten over these weeks, and the hysteria runs the gamut of political opinion. No matter our political leanings, we're talking about this time in history as though we're living in the apocalypse people. The world is hoarding toilet paper, not us the world is becoming hateful and vindictive with those who disagree with them, not us. The mind of Christ loves our neighbor as ourselves, and the mind of Christ is thankful. I mean, even in the middle of all this, we have so much to be thankful for. Yes, there are things we haven't been able to get at the grocery store. My daughter was looking for yeast since all of this started. Now, mind you, she's never made bread from scratch before, and we have plenty of bread in the refrigerator freezer to eat. But suddenly she's decided she wants to make bread, but she couldn't find yeast until a week or so ago. We have TP, but it hasn't been consistently stock in the stores. Eggs were short, so when I saw some, I bought them. The only problem was that my daughter and wife each had the same idea, and at one point we had three dozen eggs in the fridge. And though there are examples of this virus being used as a political football, and though we haven't been able to meet for several weeks, there is bad news. There are negative things happening, but we still live in a society where the word of God can be broadcast and where you can find a new Bible study to listen to every hour of the day if you want to. The stores aren't empty. The hospitals are still accepting patients. Our gas stations still have fuel, and our house is still have water, heating, cooling and electricity. So by comparison, we're still 100 fold better off than most people who have ever walked this planet today or in history. And the Bible teaches us that because of what we have, we are to be a thankful people first, Thessalonians, 5 18 says in everything, give thanks for this is the will of God and Christ Jesus for you. Psalm 30 Verse 12 says to the end that my glory may sing praise to you and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever. And one of my favorite Bible passages is about being thankful, even when everything goes wrong. A back kick 3 17 through 18 says though the fig tree may not blossom nor fruit beyond the vines, the labor of the olive may fail in the fields yield no food, though the flock may be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls yet. I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the god of my salvation. Now I get it. It's easier to be negative than positive. It's easy to see the one black dot on a field of white. I mean, let's be frank. Many of us have been watching the downward spiral of the spiritual condition of our nation for years, even generations. Some can remember the good old days when the churches were full, people still married and stayed married. Kids were polite, and nobody would dream of walking around Walmart coughing on people and telling them they had the Corona virus. And some remember when Christianity was honored when prayer was part of the routine of the school and people tried to live by the golden rule. But society's decay has always been there, and if you've been faithful in the study of the word of God, you know that this is exactly how it was predicted to go. For example, Matthew, Chapter 24 Verse 12 says that as we get closer to the end, lawlessness will abound and the love of many will grow cold. It was predicted that toward the end, governments will become hostile to Christianity and the world will become less and less concerned with their fellow man. So it can be frightening the witness, the day when, in one afternoon Ah, Governor can simply say, we're ordering you not to have church, and it just happens now. Nobody is saying that current leaders have any seditious motives for doing this. It's just alarming how easily it was done so we can become consumed with the pessimism of the hour. We can be caught up in the swirl of Doom Sayers prognostications and see the apocalypse under every rock. But that is not how faithful Christians have lived in the past or even in the present. Our problem in Christian America has been that we are insulated from persecution. For most of our country's history, Christians outside of America have dealt with government mandates and societal hostility far more than we have take Chinese Christians. For example, in China today, Christians cannot hold government office, religious groups have to be registered with the government or they cannot practice their faith openly. You have to have 50 people as part of your religion to be recognized. Guarantee that the government will allow your group to practice their faith, even approved religious groups or under the supervision and scrutiny of the religious affairs department of the Chinese government. Listen to that. People in the communist government of China, there is an actual religious affairs department that sets rules, authorizes faith groups and watches churches to see if they're following the rules. And some of the rules are all religious activities must be confined to the religious site. No home prayer groups, no visitation. Home gatherings are forbidden. Foreign missionaries were not allowed to preach their faith anywhere but in an approved religious site, and only if they have received government permission. And some of these are just a few of the official rules for churches in China. And we have heard accounts of Chinese preachers being imprisoned, church buildings being burned down and the Bible being re translated and annotated in order to come in line with a communist doctrine of the dictatorship. On the other hand, we've gone a few Sundays without meeting. We need to be thankful for what we still have. We haven't suffered to the extent of many in Christian history that reminds me of a Bible verse. Hebrews, Chapter 12 Verse three through five says this for Consider him, who has endured such contradiction of centres against himself that you don't grow weary fainting in your souls. You have not yet resisted to blood striving against sin. The author of Hebrews was addressing the Jewish people who were enduring suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ. And he said, As you guys think about your suffering, you need to remember what Jesus suffered and keep in mind that you haven't yet suffered to the point of shedding your blood. We haven't been brought to being beaten or have to die for our faith. We haven't gotten that far, so we need to be thankful. Now I'm not trying to downplay where all of this might go. I think that we may have said a very dangerous precedent for the future, but I'm just trying to remind us all to be thankful for what we have. The old him says. Count your blessings and there have been some blessings that have come out of this, as is amazing to me. More preachers are getting the word of God out online than ever before. As one pastor I know, put it now we're all televangelist. Families are spending more time together and dare I say this. Bars and strip clubs or closed and crime has significantly declined. Some parents are taking an active role in their kids educations, families, air cooking, more meals at home. People are beginning to value getting out the yard, to mow or to plant flowers. People are listening to the word of God preached in their homes. And overall, we're discovering that we don't need all the stuff that we thought we did. Now don't mistake me for a Polly Anna Silver lining, rainbows and butterflies kind of guy. I know that unemployment is up. I know that suicide is up and that people are afraid and angry. But Scripture tells Christians this in Romans 8 15 for you didn't receive the spirit of bondage again to fear. But you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry Abba Father So approach life with a thankful heart. The next attitude we need to have is that of watchfulness. We've got to keep our spiritual eyes open Mark, Chapter 13 Verse 33 says Watch keep alert and pray for you don't know when the time is, and he goes on to tell a parable. It is like a man traveling to another country, having left his house and given authority to his servants and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. Watch, therefore, for you don't know when the Lord of the House is coming, whether it evening were at midnight or when the rooster crows or in the morning Now Jesus spoke this parable 2000 years ago. That means from that time forward we are supposed to have always been watchful. We are to be observers of the signs of the times. Now I've heard from two kinds of Christians in this regard. The first kind of Christian sees things happening that could lead us toward the prophet side in times, and the second kind of Christian looks at the first kind, as tinfoil hat alarmists who've been carrying the end is near signs around since the seventies. And to be truthful, we have taken far too many End of the world scares seriously, but let me try to strike a balance between the two. And that balance is watchfulness. Watch from the strikes. A balance like the one Paul advocated to the Thessalonians Church. You might remember that Paul wrote the letter to the Thessalonians and he said regarding the end of times in verse 13 of chapter four when I would not have you be ignorant brethren concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not even as others which have no hope for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arcangel with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we, which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words and the church in Fieseler. Micah reacted in two ways. Paul was telling them that Jesus is going to return, and at his return the dead in Christ would rise first. And then those that were alive would be caught up together with him in the air. So the church at the Salonika reacted, and they're reacted in two ways. One type of Christian heard Paul talking about the return of Christ and the end of the world, and they just quit their jobs, set up there pup tents on a hill and waited. The other type of Christian kept on working. Second Thessalonians three first six says Now we command you brethren in the name of our lower Jesus Christ that you would draw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly and not after the tradition which we received of us. Neither did we eat any man's bread for not but wrought with labor and travel night and day that we might not be chargeable to any of you. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you that if any would not work. Neither should he eat. What he's saying is some of these people just decided we're gonna sit on the hill and wait for Jesus to return 1st 11 goes on by saying, for we hear that there are some which walk among you, disorderly, working not at all, but are busy bodies now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work and eat their own bread. So the first type of Christian just decided the ends coming. Woe is us. We're gonna wait for Jesus. The second type of Christian heard Paul preaching about the return of Christ, and they were mindful, thoughtful, but they kept on working and going on with life. That's what watchfulness is. Watchfulness is noting the signs of the times, but continuing to live out your faith and doing so reasonably in this continually wicked generation watchfulness is knowing where the Bible says the world is headed. And we know that anyone who takes the Bible seriously has to believe that the world is headed in one direction to an end to Jesus return and the judgment. The Bible has repeatedly stated. These truce second Peter, Chapter three, verse 10 says the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise. The elements will be dissolved with fervent heat and the earth and the works that Aaron it will be burned up. And it also tells us the first Corinthians three that there will be a time of judgment when anyone that is built on foundations of gold's over costly stones would hair stubble, that their works will be revealed by fire in the end. Now, how were we to know that that day is approaching? Obviously, if it is coming, we get closer to it every hour that passes. But how do we know if we are near that day? Well, we as Christians are admonished to be watchful for the signs of the times. First Thessalonians 54 says, But you brothers are not in darkness the day that the day should overtake you like a thief. So what are we watching for now? What is it that we're seeing now? What are the signs of the times? Well, I'm not going to go on a great deal of detail here, but here are some of the things that air supposed to happen as we approach and enter the final years before Jesus returns. And also, in addition to that, here are some of the possible connections to current events. Tells us in Scripture that in the end there's going to be a one world governmental control. Well, do we see our world moving in this direction? A one world government that will control practically every aspect of your life who you can meet, where you can go, who you can see what you can buy. Well, obviously we're living in a time where government is beginning to make those decisions for us on the basis of a virus. In the end, they're gonna be plagues and famine that are going to multiply. So like this year's pandemic because of disease and fear, people are run running short of basic necessities like bread. They are panicking and hoarding those things, depriving others of what is needed. It's also described in the end that there will be an increase of wickedness and love growing cold. It seems as though today that people are being directed and taking it upon themselves to become socially isolated and caring less for others. In the end, there's going to be a massive turning away from the faith in the persecution of the church. Now this is yet to be seen. But some fear that after this locked down, a great number of people will quit valuing, meeting in worship. Many churches will go digital, and I want you to also notice how people had become suspicious and hostile toward those who continue to meet. Tells us in the end, the gospel we preached all nations love. Ari noted that many preachers have taken to the Internet to post sermons. Gospel preaching is going out into cyberspace at an unprecedented rate. In the end times, there's going to be a one world digital money system. This is one of my watchful thoughts. I wonder how long it's going to be before so on. Calls for doing away with those germy ing coins and bills tells us in the end that nation will rise against nation. China's army is gonna march west according to end time prophesy. Well, here's another watchful thought I had. Will the economic impact of this virus response lead some countries to war? Those are just some of the things some of the thoughts. I've had some of the watchful thoughts keeping my eye on the world to see whether we are approaching or entering the final days of this world's history. Now I'm not saying all of that has some sort of prosthetic fulfillment in it. I say these things because Christians need to be watchful. Always. I don't say all that to create a spirit of fear. Truthfully, we've been marching toward the end from the time of Christ until now. But we are to be watchful. Well, you may say, Well, what good is watchfulness? Why are we watching? Well, well, that really means is we're watching over our own souls and those of other believers. In the end, there's going to be a great falling away from the faith, and I personally believe, is going to happen because many are not prepared for things to go bad for Christians. As Jesus said, the deception at the end is going to be so powerful that if it were possible, the very elect or Christians will be deceived. Now some of you may be thinking, well, aren't Christians going to be caught away or raptured before the end times stuff. The great tribulation starts. Well, I've touched on that subject before. But sir vice it to say that Bible experts fall into different camps on that question, serious Bible study leads us to only one conclusion. That Jesus is going to catch away his church. But the question is win. Some believe it will be before the tribulation. Some believe it will be in the middle of the tribulation and others that it will be at the end of the tribulation. Now, I'm not going to discuss here. What I believe I'm going to talk about watchfulness. Frankly, I think if we ask the Lord who is right, it will be similar to Josh. Was encounter with the pre incarnate Christ on the eve of Israel's Battled with Jericho. You might remember that story, Joshua. Before they're going toe battle against Jericho. I was out walking. It came to pass that he was over near Jericho. He lifted up his eyes and looked and behold. There was a man that stood over against him with his sword drawn in his hand. Joshua went to him and said, Are you for us or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay. But as the captain of the host of the Lord, am I now come? And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and did worship. So this is what happened. Joshua asked the captain of God's host whether he was on Israel's side or on the enemy's side. And the captain said, No, I'm on God's side. And I suspect if the Lord were visibly right here before me and I ask Lord, are you on the pre tripper side or the post tripper side? He'd say no, but as the lamb of God, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the word of God have I come? And at that point, I wouldn't ask him any more questions. You see, I think then went that when all of history has played out, including the return of Christ in the millennium, that we're all gonna be surprised. We're gonna be surprised that we got it wrong. So watchfulness means being ready whenever and whatever happens. A soldier on guard duty doesn't know if the enemy is going to attack at midnight. 2 a.m. or 4:36 a.m. So they can't sleep. They can't say, Oh, I know that my guard duty is going to be over before the enemy comes because I'm a dispensation. This pre tribulation, pre millennial ist. I'm going to take a nap. If I knew that guard, I'd say to them, What if you're wrong? Watchfulness means that we stay awake all night. We are ready for whatever happens. That's watchfulness. And again, let me issue a gentle warning to believers. Unity. Quit buying everything that's being fed to you. Sometimes you need to unplug the news feed and plug into the word in prayer. Well, the fourth attitude of the Christian in this dying world is faithfulness. Regardless of what happens at the end of this cove, In 19 world event, Christians are called to remain faithful, faithful to what? To our Lord and to his commandments. Matthew, 24 45 says who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom is Lord has set over his household to give them their food in due season. Blessed is that servant whom the Lord finds doing so when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all his house. But if that evil servant should say in his heart, My Lord is delaying is coming and begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunkards. The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn't expect it and in an hour when he doesn't know it and we'll cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be. This passage so clearly fits the day we're in. We have professing Christians who have joined in with the world in its attitudes. They've quit measuring their decisions and attitudes by biblical standards. And they, in effect, are saying, my lord is delaying is coming. So they become angry and violent toward fellow servants, other Christians and they start living life for the fun they can have eating and drinking with the drunkards. You know, speaking of faithfulness, there are many things that have surprised me over the last 20 years of my life. But the most surprising has been how quickly people I knew who had professed to be Bible believing Christians jumped ship and began adopting the world standards of morality. It has been shocking how many Christians are loving and gracious in person. But then you see how they're angry and hateful and vengeful when they get in front of a computer keyboard. And if you don't believe me, go into a quote unquote Christian chat room and identify yourself with any political party, Republican or Democrat and start reading what people will say about you and what some will say should happen to you. Now. I'm not so naive as to believe that every person who calls himself Christian online or in person is actually a believer. But that's what Jesus parable means. In the end times. People who identify as Christians but who are not will start outwardly manifesting the true state of their hearts. And my friends, some of us need to step back a minute and look at our attitudes. We're walking around angry and fearful in this world. But this covert 19 event, just like every other event in history, is really an opportunity. It is an opportunity to choose love over hate. It is an opportunity to choose faith over fear, love over hate, Jesus said in Matthew five. You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies. Bless those who curse You do good to those who hate you and pray for those who mistreats you and persecute you. That you may be Children of your father who is in heaven. We can choose leading over. Following this is an opportunity to lead. It is possible that by our attitudes we can lead others into anger and fear. Proverbs 10 17 says he is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray. On the other hand, we can choose faith and love and to be a leader to truth. David Road in Psalm 51 12 restored to me the joy of my salvation and uphold me with your free spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners shall be converted to you. It's an opportunity now to become more like Christ, not more like the world. Romans 12 2 tells us don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what is good, well pleasing and the perfect will of God we can choose eternity over decay. It's an opportunity to remind ourselves that as the old him says, this world is not my home. I'm only passing through. We're like Abraham, who in Hebrews 11 was said that by faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own dwelling intense with Isaac and Jacob. For he looked for a city which has the foundations whose builder and maker is gone. We don't live here as a permanent permanent residence. Don't expect this world to be a place where you can settle down. We also have the opportunity to be those who have faith and not fear to those who are fearful about death. If you are a Christian, this is not the city of your final dwelling. You're looking for a heavenly city. For those of you fearful about our country and its constitution, this is not the city of your citizenship. Philippians 3 20 says, for our citizenship is in heaven from where we also wait for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ and these unprecedented times we are to remain faithful and in conclusion, the final attitude for the Christian in the coming days is humility. We need to approach all of this with humility. It amazes me how many experts there are now regarding the Corona virus. In fact, the parody news site, the Babylon be let me repeat if you didn't hear me. The parody news site, the Babylon, be reported that Facebook was going to begin issuing principal medical degrees when a user offered a a medical opinion on Facebook. A pop up message would then appear, saying, It looks like you've offered an expert medical opinion on the Internet. Click the button below to claim your printable medical degree. Now that parody, that exaggeration was designed to make a point. The point is that everyone has become an expert about everything. Seems as though whatever opinion you express on the Internet, somebody else comes along is there's no Let me tell you the truth. I have an expert, whether it's medicine or politics or whatever else that is being discussed. But as Christians, we need to approach all of this with humility. I'm not a doctor. I'm not an expert. I'm not an expert on politics. I'm not an expert on what somebody was thinking in Kansas. I can't read the governor or the attorney general's mind. I can't read the president's mind. I know a little bit about a few things, and I know little to nothing about an infinite, testable number of things. But yet everybody is an expert on all of it, But as a believer, we need to be humble. Proverbs 11 2 says. When pride comes, then come shame. But with humility comes wisdom. Philippians 23 says, doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself. Colossians, 3 12 says. Put on, therefore, as God's chosen is ones holy and beloved. Ah, heart of compassion, kindness, loneliness, humility and perseverance. Tightest three to says to speak evil of no one. Repeat that speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. I think one of the best examples of this in the Bible is a comparison of Jesus and Paul. They both ended up on trial before the San Hadron, and both made statements that resulted in there being slapped across the face by a temple guard. Now, this was Paul's reaction when the high priest ordered that he be struck. Acts 23 3 says. Then Paul said to him, God shall smite thee the white ID wall for citizen now to judge me after the law and commands me to be smitten. Contrary to the law, we might say that that was an example of righteous indignation. Paul was on trial. It wasn't determined whether he was guilty or not. So for the high priest order that he be struck was against the law. But Paul reacted with venom and violence. The Lord smite you, you wide wall. Now compare that to Jesus. John describes that Jesus. At his trial, the high priest asked him about his disciples and his doctrine, and Jesus replied, I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me. What I said to them. Behold, they know the things which I said. But the guard that was by Jesus took that as an insolent answer, and he struck Jesus in the face. Now did Jesus call anybody a whitewashed wall? did Jesus get angry? No, he knew the world he was living in, and he simply replied, If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil. But if, Well, why do you beat me? You remain calm and humble now, my friends, if Jesus remained humble, who was all knowing the embodiment of truth when it was obvious that he was perfect and it was obvious that those trying him were evil? Then shouldn't we be humble who are far less than perfect? And when we do not have a perfect understanding of motives and actions and everything that's gone into decisions across our land in the world, and we need to know that not only are we apt to get things wrong and have humility about our own knowledge, but that everybody else will as well people are going to make mistakes. Leaders are going to make decisions that are incorrect. Leaders are going to say things that are incorrect and especially we must approach brothers and sisters in Christ and the people around us and those who govern us with the spirit of grace and forgiveness. Well, those are the attitudes and thoughts that I recommend as we look forward from these days. Thoughtfulness, thankfulness, watchfulness, faithfulness and humility. Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for the presence of your spirit. As we have considered your word. Guide us through this valley and we count on your promise that you will work it all out for good. And we pray these things in Jesus name, Amen.