Anticipating the fallout from Covid 19

Well, lockdown has eased enough to allow us to get out and about from 6-9am every morning within a five kilometre radius of our residence. It is wonderful to get some real exercise and to see everyone else enjoying the beautiful autumn weather here in South Africa.

What’s next?

Yet, while we appreciate the newfound freedom, there is apprehension in the air over the fallout from the lockdown and a deep desire to be back to normal.

But I wonder if ‘normal’ will be what we knew it to be before Covid 19? And do we really want that? Many people have expressed how much they’ve enjoyed extra family time, time to spend on their hobbies. Likewise, the resurgence of wild life and cleansing of our atmosphere and rivers has shown us just how much we are damaging our world in our scramble for “stuff”.

We’ve been sacrificing what’s important for material ‘stuff’

It has made many of us realise that actually, we are sacrificing things of true value  to earn the money we need to sustain a lifestyle and provide for the family.

A lesson from George Muller

This is not a modern problem, though perhaps it is worse than it has been in the past. No doubt many of you have heard of George Muller? Starting in 1836, without soliciting for funds, he built five orphanages at an estimated cost of £100,000 each. He purely trusted God to provide. In his lifetime he cared for over 10,000 orphans, giving them a fine education and finding employment for them. He also founded schools, distributed over 280,000 Bibles and nearly 1.5 million New Testaments. Without any government assistance and with no fund raising of any kind, it is estimated that over £1.3 million (about £103 million in todays terms) passed through his institutions.

You have probably heard of him, but did you know his motive for starting the first orphanage was to demonstrate to his parishioners that they could trust God to provide?

He saw the menfolk working long hours, neglecting quality time with their families to provide for them (sound familiar?) and filled with anxiety over their future. George Muller had been living by faith, trusting God for his own needs. He held no collection each Sunday, but merely had a box at the back of his church where people could place money if they desired. He never made his needs known, save to God. And he saw God come through all the time. He wanted his parishioners to learn to trust God in the same way, so he started an orphanage as a living demonstration of what God can do. And God was faithful providing far beyond his humble beginnings of an orphanage in his own home.

God speaks loudly through His Word

The book of Isaiah is filled with exhortations to trust God in the midst of trouble. He predicts problems for those who deny Him and chase after other ways of sorting out their troubles, but is full of assurance to those who trust Him. Listen to this, as an example:

Isaiah 33: 14 “The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless”

This is the state of many hearts in this present crisis. Yet hear His word to those who faithfully trust Him and walk in His ways:

vs. 15 “He who walks righteously and speaks what is right” … (words of faith)... “who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes”……..(are committed to God and His ways)“……..his bread will be supplied and water will not fail him.”

I believe God is giving us an opportunity to trust Him as never before. Let’s prove ourselves faithful in trusting Him so that He can prove Himself faithful in providing for us.

For My ways are not your ways…

Facts, false news, science, opinions…

Wow, I don’t know if you’re like me, but I’m getting acute aversion in the pit of my stomach whenever I get another WhatsApp, FB post or Tweet on information about the virus. Was it a leak from a Chinese laboratory dabbling in germ warfare? Was this an experiment that was exported to China from America after it was banned in the US? Did it come from strange animals sold in the Chinese market? Is it a plot by China to dominate the world’s economy? Is it primarily a blood disease?………I have stopped reading/listening to these things now, because I am sure of one thing.

The ultimate truth

Whatever the truth behind this pandemic, the ultimate truth is that

(i )God is in control and

(ii) all things work together for the good of those who love Him.

However this started, whatever the motives of man, God is ultimately orchestrating His plan and it is exciting to anticipate what He is doing, scary as it might be along the way.

An example from Easter

We have just celebrated Easter and that par excellence shows how God was in control of a scenario that was brought about through jealousy, religious hypocrisy, hatred and cruelty. To the disciples on the ground, it must have seemed to be out of control, yet in hindsight we can see that history was tilted upward through that act. And the motives of the various players were merely incidental. I can’t wait to look back on this momentous episode in the history of our planet and see, in hindsight, what God was doing.

Ultimately it is not what you know about how this happened and what the science is behind the illness that will affect us. It is Who you know who can bring you through. The more we get to know Jesus, the more the other facts fade into the background.

Scripture shows the way

The book of Isaiah is filled with passages contrasting the fate of those who trust in God in times of trouble with those who trust in other things to get them through. Psalm 91 is a wonderful psalm that seems to have been written especially for today, yet its promises are addressed specifically to those who trust in God.

Instead of using our forced confinement to fill our minds with all the gossip and speculation about Covid 19, let’s use it to get to know the One who created the universe and you and me better. Then this time will be one invested in healing our land and ensuring our well-being for all eternity.

Abundant Grace

Golden light on dew-kissed roses
Heralding the grace of day
Cooing doves, at morn’s awakening
Dusty hooves of foals at play
Wheat fields, like a tawny ocean
Rippling in the wind’s caress
Dancing streams, their spray asparkle
Pensive pools in quiet rest 
Air perfumed with scent of jasmine
Wind chime’s soft melodious ring
Dappled earth through filtered sunlight
Gamb’lling lambs at start of spring
Miracle of baby’s birthing
Brand new breath, a lusty cry
Old man resting, children’s chatter
Puff balls in a dreamy sky
Cells and segments of an orange
Neatly packed with tasty bliss
Warm embrace of two young lovers
Tenderness of mother’s kiss

These and countless other blessings
Are bestowed on us each day
Pointing us to God’s compassion
Showing us His love-filled way.
He surrounds us with His beauty
Fills our souls with untold wealth
Lifting them from deep depression
Into happiness and health.

Yet His greatest gift of goodness
Starts its journey steeped in death
Wounded Saviour hanging, dripping
Blood for us with His last breath
Cursed that He might buy our healing
‘Tombed to fight for all our souls
Breaking forth in glorious vict’ry
Empty grave, and men made whole.

What a song our hearts are singing
Let the church bells toll and toll
Jesus is our Lord and Saviour
‘Tis indeed well with my soul

Why I write.

Cruelly thrust upon His brow

Its deeply penetrating thorns

Transfixed a crown that spoke to all

Of mocking and of scorn.

The men he loved in silence stared

To see the crown, the nails, the gore

Their Saviour stripped of everything

Save thorns upon His brow.

“Dear God in heaven, He’s Your Son

See what they’ve done. Come, take Him down”

From heav’n the answer clearly comes

“Behold His kingly crown.”

Though signifying cruelty

To all who saw the spiny ring

All heaven bowed as Jesus was

Declared the King of Kings.

The King of Love’s victorious

That’s what the crown of thorns proclaims

His grace and pure humility

Gives Him the right to reign.

Yet none of Jesus’ followers

Could see that at that cruel time

The heavenly plan was hidden then

They only saw the crime.

So when there is catastrophe

And all around seems dark and grim

Remember God sees differently

He knows. Keep trusting Him.

Brace yourself — and feel the thrill

More and more, these days, it takes courage to be overt in one’s profession of faith.

I remember the trepidation I felt as I examined my patients and braced myself to witness to them and offer to pray with them. No matter how often one does it, there is usually some resistance in one’s spirit. We have an enemy who tries to discourage us. But when we are obedient, ther’s nothing to touch the thrill in one’s spirit as you feel the approval of God.

Looking for clues. Seeking guidance.

Sometimes, while I examined my patients and told them what to expect the following day — the day of their surgery — I’d look for clues about their spiritual journey. If I saw a Bible or devotional on their bedside table, I knew I could talk to them about my experience of the way God comes through when we pray.

Often, though, there were few clues, even in the conversation. Then I’d have to rely on the Holy Spirit, and my own courage. As a general rule (which I admit, I broke on occasions), I’d offer to pray with them unless I felt a strong sense that I shouldn’t. For example, one of my patients told me she was a witch. I prayed for her, but it would have been unwise to offer to pray with her.

The macho man; steeling myself to obey

Part of the adventure of the Christian life is in the joy of obedience in the face of the enemy’s opposition. Sometimes I’d have to steel myself to be obedient. I remember seeing a real macho man on my premed round. He had a Men’s Health magazine beside him and was abrupt in his manner, answering all my medical questions in monosyllables. Still, I felt no check in my spirit about praying with him, although I wasn’t sure how he’d respond. With my heart racing a little, I said, “I’m a committed Christian and I’ve seen how faithful God is in responding to us when we invite Him to be involved in what’s happening to us. I’d love to say a prayer with you if you would like me to.”

He nodded curtly and said, “‘Kay.”

As I left, I felt the usual thrill in my spirit for taking the plunge, but I wondered what his inner response was.

The following day I visited him. He was a completely different man. He greeted me cheerily as I entered and shook my hand warmly. “Dr Walker, thank you so much for praying with me. You’ve no idea what that meant. I went into my operation completely at peace and am feeling so good.”

It was obvious, now that his monosyllabic stance beforehand was not surliness, but terror at being in hospital and facing an operation.

I left with a spring in my step.

Be encouraged. God is with you

I don’t think there’s anything that pleases God more than one of His children expressing His love to someone who is fearful. And what better way than to offer to pray with them. The Bible tells us that His perfect love drives out fear. Be assured, God is with you and you will be blessed.