A Kingdom-Minded Perspective on COVID-19
Concern over Coronavirus has crippled stock markets, suspended pro sports seasons, and banned travel overseas, creating high anxiety. It’s amazing to me how a virus like COVID-19 can impact our lives in such drastic ways, because most tragedies in life are more personal than widespread. When personal loss of a family member, or financial difficulty comes our way, we often feel alone and discouraged. We get into protection mode praying the hurt will stop. But when something like Coronavirus affects everyone’s lives, it drives us to fear that can cripple us. If there is one thing we need in this time, it is the perspective of the Kingdom of Heaven.
In Matthew 6:10, Jesus instructs his disciples to pray for the kingdom to come. Some describe the kingdom as God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule. Those who love King Jesus yearn for his kingdom to come. It is through prayer—“thy kingdom come”—that the Holy Spirit lifts our chins above the earthly tragedies to see the coming kingdom expanding on the horizon. What stops us from crying out “thy kingdom come” is when we are busy promoting or protecting our personal kingdom. Sin seeks to protect self and is disloyalty to the King. But a cry for “thy kingdom come” is a cry of repentance from people who deparately need to see from God’s perspective.
The greatest encouragement Jesus gives us today is to cry out to God “thy kingdom come” asking God to see the beauty above the pandemics, above the tragedy, above the fear that we face in this world. Driving us to look beyond the self-protective nature of our flesh and begin to expose ourselves to the spiritual reality of redemption. As I reflect on the Coronavirus today, many things go through my head, but what the Spirit of God is revealing to me is that life is fragile.
We hold tight to things that will ultimately fade to dust (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20), often forgetting that our lives belong to God. He knows the beginning and end (Job 1:21), and He will be faithful to accomplish the plan He has for us (Psalm 138:8). Even though it’s hard to give up the illusion of control, when we do, we begin to understand the reality of God’s protection in our lives. Disease and illness are part of this world, but they are not the end of our story. Because of Christ, these things have no lasting power. While it may seem like they continually win the battle in our physical lives, the victory of the war belongs to the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Because of this, our burdens have been lifted. The illusion of control is broken down and fear fades into confidence in His strength.
As we pray together to God, “thy kingdom come”, in this anxious time, may the Spirit of God lift our eyes to the coming kingdom - to experience God’s presence and peace as we wait on the Lord. I leave you with Philippians 4:6-7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”