CORONAVIRUS AND CHRIST BY JOHN PIPER: COMMENTARIES AND INSIGHTS BY TSALLA EMMANUEL.

The famous Christian Hymn by Edward Mote goes "on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand". Really, all other grounds are sinking; the question everyone has to answer is “where do I stand?

The world is on a standstill, gripped with the fear of the unknown; most countries economy suffering a heavy shock; social, political and academic activities held back.  Many have died, many have lost faith and hope, many are shaking in faith, (and with so many who don’t even know faith), but one thing remains unshaken - The Solid Rock, which is Jesus Christ.

With all the chaos in the world what better foundation to stand on in such trying times – if not on Christ, the unshakeable and never sinking foundation.

Some weeks ago, as I bowed my heart in supplication to God, He took me on a voyage to His word. In the book of Isaiah, He says; 

 –“No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your glory.” Isaiah 60:19.

Light and illumination came out of the above-written words of God, and I came to the realization that the Lord is taking us (believers) on a journey where our peace would no longer rest on the systems of the world. Our hope and trust won't rest in the hands of scientists or governments to provide solutions to the darkness in our world but unto God would we look for light.

Fear, misery and gross darkness cover the earth but the Lord has a more reassuring word for us “even if the sun refuses to shine, even if the moon acts same, I the Lord will be your glory” what more assurance shall a man have when the Lord Himself is his glory.

-“See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you” Isaiah 60:2.

As I marvelled at the glorious reassurance of the Lord over us in times of trouble, I resolved in my heart that no other ground is assured of not sinking than Jesus and no other place can a man put his hope and trust than on Jesus Christ. While pondering on His words of hope and His glory over us even in the thickest of the darkness of the earth, I am reminded of the Israelites’ story in the wilderness – how the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way by day and by a pillar of fire to give them light by night (Exodus 13: 21). Oh! Such a marvellous and glorious sight of the protective hands of the Father over us even in our weakest moments – moments in the wilderness!

Here’s some light from John Piper’s book – Coronavirus and Christ:

In the best and worst of times, God’s words bring unshakable peace and joy. The sweetness of God’s word is not lost in this historic moment of bitter providence—not if we have learned the secret of “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor. 6:10).The secret of “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” is this: knowing that the same sovereignty that could stop the coronavirus, yet doesn’t, is the very sovereignty that sustains the soul in it. Indeed, more than sustains—sweetens. Sweetens with hope that God’s purposes are kind, even in death—for those who trust him.

Even in the face of the coronavirus. It comes with incomparable comfort: “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul” (Ps. 94:19). “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Ps. 34:18–19). No man can comfort our souls in this pandemic the way God can. His comfort is unshakable. It is the comfort of a great, high Rock in the stormy sea. It comes from his word, the Bible. John Piper.

What better fortress to hold unto, if not on the certainty that even in death God’s purposes are kind? Whether you live or die, the Lord will always be with you – on earth or in eternity.

Tons of people all over the world are expectant of a cure from the scientists and doctors; hoping for better measures to be taken by their government and their agents in fear of the virus being their end. Their peace has been taken away by the fear of the unknown, doubts, probabilities and uncertainties. Faith hanging upon their fears as the hope they have fades away. But why go through such torment and pain when God promises something better – certain, true and eternal. The promise of His peace to all whose trust is in Him. -“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3.

He tells us that His peace is different from what the world offers -“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid” John 14:27.

As we hope and pray for a breakthrough – for the healing for our lands. We must acknowledge that God is Lord over the pandemic and Lord beyond the pandemic. And for all whose trust is in Him, whether in life or in death, your peace is unshakable because your rock is unshakable. The assurance that your life on earth cannot be taken away until he says so is satisfying and comforting. It is on this comfort that you must dwell. Whether you live or die, there's a better promise of rest in God. Peace in the now and Peace in the hereafter.

This is absolutely the opposite for those whose dependence is not on God – those who live outside God and His promises. From the words of Ravi Zacharias “If you decide to live your life without God, you would spend the rest of your eternity exactly that way.” I would like to add that “the choice of spending life on earth with God ensures peace throughout your stay on earth and in eternity. This is different for those who spend their life without Him. For them, it is an endless pursuit of vanity on earth and an eternity of unrest."

Beloved, don’t miss out on God’s peace and rest – turn to God, rest on His rock and enjoy peace amidst the storms.

Another important theme in John Piper’s book (Coronavirus and Christ) is ‘The Sovereignty of God.’ The prolific writer addresses questions and doubts as to whether God is behind the coronavirus. He emphasis on the fact that God is sovereign and all of satan’s devices or works are subject to the infinite wisdom of God. God governs this bitter season we are in and it is on this base that we should rest on His rock with the assurance that He’s in control and that everything the enemy may plan for evil against us (believers), God has an ultimate plan that makes it for our good.

Like a friend of mine said, good days! bad days! He’s God in all days. He’s God of the famine and God of the feast.

Realizing that God is in control of everything and that the pandemic (and every other thing) is subject to His will, is essential for all believers while living through this bitter season.

-“I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” Isaiah 46:9–10

“To be God is to cause his own counsel to stand—always. God does not just declare which future events will happen; he makes them happen. He speaks his word, and then he adds, “I am watching over my word to perform it” (Jer. 1:12).

The Apostle Paul sums it up: [He] works all things according to the counsel of his will. (Eph. 1:11) “All things.” Not some things. And “according to his will,” not according to wills or forces outside Himself. In other words, the sovereignty of God is all-encompassing and all-pervasive. He holds absolute sway over this world.

This is not a season for sentimental views of God. It is a bitter season. And God ordained it. God governs it. He will end it. No part of it is outside his sway. Life and death are in his hand. Job did not sin with his lips (Job 1:22) when he said: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job 1:21)

In the presence of God, no one has a right to life. Every breath we take is a gift of grace. Every heartbeat, undeserved. Life and death are finally in the hands of God. 

Even if Satan, on his divine leash, has a hand in our suffering and death, he is not ultimate. He cannot hurt us without God’s permission and limitation (Job 1:12; Luke 22:31; 2 Cor. 12:7). And in the end, it is right for us to say to Satan what Joseph said to his brothers who had sold him into slavery: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20). Be careful not to water this down. It does not say, “God used it for good” or “God turned it for good.” It says, “God meant it for good.” They had an evil purpose. God had a good purpose. God didn’t start cleaning up halfway through this sinful affair. He had a purpose, a meaning, from the beginning. From the start, he meant it for good.

In Christ we are not his dispensable pawns. We are his valued children. “You are of more value than many sparrows.” This is the secret mentioned earlier: knowing that the same sovereignty that could stop the coronavirus, yet doesn’t, is the very sovereignty that sustains the soul in it. And not only sustains, but sees to it that everything, bitter and sweet, works together for our good—the good of those who love God and are called in Christ (Rom. 8:28–30).” John Piper: (From the Phenomenon book – Coronavirus and Christ).

We must understand that our God is capable of shaking both the heavens and the earth, but His promise remains to those who stand upon His unshakable rock (Christ). (Heb 12:26-28).

Removing the virus from the power or ordination of God is refuting that He's sovereign and that He’s control – that’s not true! God has proven countless times that everything – whether bad or good achieves His glory. John Piper in His book (Coronavirus and Christ) shares of some of the marvellous breakthroughs God has achieved in time passed through devastating seasons as this; such as the two plagues that struck the Roman Empire in AD 156 and 251. John Piper also evinces this by referring to various events in scriptures, one of which was when Stephen was martyred in Acts 7:60, that led to the persecution of the church and further resulted to the scattering of Christians throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1-4), all this happened fulfilling Jesus instructions in Acts 1:8 as the Christians who got scattered were able to spread God’s word to other parts of the world.

So even what the enemy plans as evil for the world – God has written it off already as good in an ultimate plan. Just as the devil thought killing Jesus was a victory to him, God planned it as our victory. So even in the face of the pandemic, God has a bigger and better plan that is meant for the good of His people. God is in control and in due time, He would heal the world - whether through a cure, vaccine, or complete taking away (in whatsoever manner He wills). He says: “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalms 62:10

As we pray and trust God to take this sickness away, we should also strive to understand what God is doing in this season. There is so much God wants us to learn in this season – through the pandemic, but in order to grasp even a little of this, we must look beyond our pains and momentary troubles and see the eternal glory that is being achieved. (1 Corinthians 4:17)

The coronavirus is a call for the world to seek God first, a call to return to God, and a call to trust in the Lord. It is a call to re-arrange our priorities and discover what matters most in life. To understand that life on earth is not all there is and that our time here is numbered (Oh! That we learn to number our days). There’s no more room for the excuse of busy schedules and long work hours as a reason for poor or rather no fellowship with God. The current standstill affords you ample time to reflect and enjoy an intimate relationship with God.

It is a period for you to draw closer to God and find out in greater details His plans and purposes for you. You must use this period to reflect on whether you’ve been on the right track and if you happen to depart from this earth today, can it be said of your life that it was a life well spent?

It is also a wake-up call and an alarm to be ready for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a call to repentance, a call for us all to align/re-align our lives to God’s will.

John Piper shares in one of his answers to "What God is doing through the coronavirus?"

 “The reason God exposes us to such losses is to rouse us to rely on Christ.

"We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." (2 Cor. 1:8–9)

The coronavirus calls us to make God the all-important, pervasive reality in our lives. Our lives depend on him more than they depend on breath. And sometimes God takes our breath in order to throw us onto himself.

The coronavirus pandemic is the experience of loss— from the smallest loss of convenience to the greatest loss of life. And if we know the secret of Paul’s joy, we may experience the loss as gain.” John Piper (Coronavirus and Christ)

OUR DUTY: REDEEMING THE TIME

As believers, while we are living in this season, we have certain responsibilities and duties, the sum of which is to “Let your light shine”.

“Arise, (you reading this!) Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you” Isaiah 60:1-2

You must have been wondering, what can I do in this season that would shine forth His light? It is very simple – Express God!

You might not be a doctor or a scientist looking for a cure in this season but you definitely have a part to play as healing comes to our world, and this is expressing the true nature of God –  love.

As we put our trust and faith in God, praying daily for the healing of the sick, praying for those at the forefront of the war against the virus and also praying for the world. Let us also remember to let His glory be seen in us and through us. How? Am sure that should be your next question! By sharing God’s word of peace, His love and salvation to all around you by all means possible.

There are grieving families who are in dire need of the comfort of His word; there are many in the world who can barely feed and as a result die not because of the virus but of hunger; there are those who have lost faith; there are those who don’t know that they can have something better in life (Christ and the peace that comes with being with Him); there are those seeking for love, hope, peace and joy. The sum of it all is “there is someone out there in need of what you can give!”

"We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but at all times make it your aim to do good to one another and to all people. Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

Why not extend a helping hand to as many as you can and give out to those in need? Why not share His word and show others that there’s peace for as many whose trust is in Him – the peace that surpasses life on earth? Why not share love - God's love? Beyond all these I have listed, there are tons of other ways you can express God’s love in this season and ensure His glory over you is being manifested. That all men shall see Him working through you in the darkness!

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven” Matthew 5:16.

By shining your light, you not only lighten the hearts and lives of many but you also reveal God to the world. God is love and if we are His children, then we are of love since we have love in us.

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16. 

We give up our lives for our brothers and sisters by showing love to them. Remember, Love is a verb, it ought to be expressed! This dark world needs lightening, let us all shine our light so the world can glow of God's light!

The pandemic is a call to all, to come near to the redeemer and find rest from all the worries of this world. To enjoy divine peace! The kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace and Joy and these traits are made manifest in the lives of all Kingdom Citizens. Peace can never be taken away from one who builds and abides on the rock, who stands firm upon the word of God – The Believer!

It is my prayer that this season of bitterness passes away and at the end of it all may God’s glory be revealed!

We join in John Piper’s Prayers!

"Father, at our best moments, by your grace, we are not sleeping in Gethsemane. We are awake and listening to your Son’s prayer. He knows, deep down, that he must suffer. But in his perfect humanity, he cries out, “If it is possible, let this cup pass.” In the same way, we sense, deep down, that this pandemic is appointed, in your wisdom, for good and necessary purposes. We too must suffer. Your Son was innocent. We are not. Yet with him in our less-than-perfect humanity, we too cry out, “If it is possible, let this cup pass.” Do quickly, O Lord, the painful, just, and merciful work you have resolved to do. Do not linger in judgment. Do not delay your compassion. Remember the poor, O Lord, according to your mercy. Do not forget the cry of the afflicted. Grant recovery. Grant a cure. Deliver us—your poor, helpless creatures—from these sorrows, we pray. But do not waste our misery and grief, O Lord. Purify your people from powerless preoccupation with barren materialism and Christless entertainment. Put our mouths out of taste with the bait of Satan. Cut from us the roots and remnant of pride and hate and unjust ways. Grant us capacities of outrage at our own belittling of your glory. Open the eyes of our hearts to see and savor the beauty of Christ. Incline our hearts to your word, your Son, and your way. Fill us with compassionate courage. And make a name for yourself in the way your people serve. Stretch forth your hand in great awakening for the sake of this perishing world. Let the terrible words of Revelation not be spoken over this generation: “Yet still they did not repent.” As you have stricken bodies, strike now the slumbering souls. Forbid that they would remain asleep in the darkness of pride and unbelief. In your great mercy, say to these bones, “Live!” And bring the hearts and lives of millions into alignment with the infinite worth of Jesus. In Jesus’s name, amen."

How I wish I could copy the whole texts of John Piper’s book – Coronavirus and Christ for you to read, it is a must-read for everyone in such trying time like this. The best I can do is to recommend that you all read and share it.

Anyone who wants a copy can contact me via my email address @ tsallaemmanuel.et@gmail.com

God bless and keep you!

Amen.

Author: Tsalla Emmanuel

Edited by: Bonet Sarah Chat