One of the problems of the 21st century West is that—with all of our technology and knowhow—we think we are in control of our environment. So, when a plague, a war, a natural disaster, or other threat strikes, we’re terrified. We overreact. We think nobody has suffered like this before.
We’ve lost that sense of humility. The modern Western world scoffs at the attitudes of past Christians and calls them superstitious. Then celebrities announce that they’ve contracted COVID-19 and people insist that the government, the doctors, the military and others do something. The fact that this has happened is the fault of these groups because it is not supposed to happen! We think we shouldn’t have to practice “social isolation” (quarrantine) and te fact that a disease is going around that might† kill us
But in the past, people knew that things were beyond their control. Some of that was due to limited science, yes. But another part of it was that the people of ancient and medieval times knew they were not God, and there were things they could not control. Because of that, they turned to God and trusted in Him. God’s help could be manifested in a physical deliverance from physical evil. But it also involved the fact that our present life on Earth was not all there was to our existence. In the end, the Christians of the past could earnestly appeal for help but ultimately respond like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
Ultimately, we need to remember this attitude. Science could discover a vaccine. Science might be permanently stumped. But God remains in control. We can’t avoid trials in this life, but we can put our trust in Him, who seeks our ultimate good.
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(†) The current reports are: Not as fatal as we first thought, but kills more than the flu—especially the elderly.
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