SUNDAY SERVICES: TO QUARANTINE OR NOT TO QUARANTINE

"I know of several not one occasion that I went to church sick and went back home healed, my concern is simple, how will we as sons talk of a God of miracles, a God all powerful yet again keep off places of worship on Sunday in case Corona strikes as we pursue him. Is he able yet again not able enough to protect me from Corona? If the sea saw him and fled, can Corona see his presence and live, is he able in some things yet his arm not strong enough in other things? Don't you know that even your own houses may not be as safe as you think?"

I woke up this morning to this very valid argument from one of my Facebook friends.

We are living in a time and space where everything has been unexpectedly disrupted and if we are honest, we do not really know how to live on from here. Normal activity has suddenly been brought to a halt, the economy seems to be crashing. and all hope for a great 2020 seems lost. Amidst all this is a confusion among people about how to behave, who to run to, whom to believe, what to do.

I bumped on a different post that led me to these scriptures in Isaiah, and the argument of this other friend was that Quarantine is in a sense Godly.

Go home, my people,and lock your doors! Hide yourselves for a little while until the LORD’s anger has passed. Look! The LORD is coming from heaven to punish the people of the earth for their sins.The earth will no longer hide those who have been killed.They will be brought out for all to see. (Isaiah 26:20-21) NLT

This was God's instruction to His children at a time when He was bringing judgement upon the nations that had gone on with their evil ways and refused to repent even after He had sent prophets to warn them.

Many people looking at what is happening may be questioning the sovereignty of God.

God why have you allowed this to happen?

Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the world was instantly set up for incredibly tough times. Sin became rampant and man became totally separated from God. God in His loving mercy gave His only son as a ransom for our sins.

Despite this great sacrifice, we have continue to be wise in our own ways, denying the power that is able to make us righteous. Evil has filled the earth and we grieve the heart of God.

God who knows the beginning from the end knew that we would not all accept this salvation. So as prophesied in the Holy Scriptures, the time is nearing when He will send His son to judge the living and the dead. We are living in the beginning of the end of time.

Before that time comes, everything that we see has to take place. There is nothing happening that is catching God by surprise. The only ones getting surprised is us that He has allowed it to happen.

God has allowed the Virus Corona, (even though being a work of the evil one with an intention to set a stage for the anti-Christ) to manifest so that He may also use it to bring His fear among the nations of the earth. I also strongly believe that because of the mercies of God, the virus will not cause as much harm as would have been were it not for His intervention. There is a great revival that is about to break out, and all for the Glory of God. Let us pray and watch out for that.

Meanwhile, We talk about the elephant in the room. Quarantine. My opinion is that yes, Christians should guard themselves against contacting the virus by minimizing exposure.

This should not be motivated by fear but in keeping up with obedience to leadership which is a principle in the kingdom of God. It is also an instruction from God to His people for when judgement is being poured out to the nations as we have seen in Isaiah 26. It is wise to heed.

The word of God also warns against putting Him to test.

You must not test the LORD your God as you did when you complained at Massah (Deuteronomy 6:16)

Jesus affirms this in Matthew 4:7 when He says, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'' This response was given as a reaction to the devil's prompt to Him to throw Himself down from a high place during a series of temptations after Jesus has finished His forty days fast in the wilderness. This is the argument satan presented to Him.

For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone. (Psalms 91:12)

Our God has promised protection to - Those who abide in the secret place of the most high. (psalms 91) We are assured of health and long life. Please note that this promise is only for those who have a very very close relationship with God, first by accepting His son to be their savior, and then developing a very intimate relationship with Him through constant fellowship.

This assurance does not mean that we get careless and disobedient to the authorities. This in a way is saying let us expose ourselves to Corona because God is able to heal us. While we know this for a fact, This in a way is testing the spirit of God.

Finally brethren, while in our homes, let us use this time to seek the reason for the season. We can not afford to miss out on this one! We now have to seek God for ourselves away from the norm of the Sunday services. It is a time when our faith in God and our relationship with Him is being put to test. Is it a pure hunger for Him or is it an excitement driven from religious gatherings and activities?

When all is said and done, We shall stand before the throne of judgement everyone for themselves. Not your church or your pastor, or the community of believers. Let us take this time to dwell under that secret place of the Most high so that His promises can be applicable and functional among us and our families.

At a time when I did not go to Church for almost two years working in a Muslim country and attending shifts, God powerfully began to move in my life, shaking up everything I ever knew, healing me, breaking me free from addictions and calling me to Himself. He did this when I became more intentional about seeking Him for MYSELF, not connected to any church or fellowship.

There is a growing craze for spiritual fathers and mothers. You may not be able to drive or take a bus to where they live to get spiritual nourishment now. What do you do?

I challenge you to make God and His spirit your mentor. He will be so excellent at it you will see. Spend time in His presence in repentance, reading His word, talking to Him, listening to Him. Speak to Him about your fears, your struggles, the economy, anything and everything. Pursue God in your heart, make your home your place of worship, pray for the nations, make declarations over your family, spend time with them and love on them, be kind to the poor, Stay in that secret place.

May the perfect love of God that casts out all fear comfort your soul as you stay in quarantine

With much Love,

Wambui Wambugu