Does anyone see that the COVID epidemic is a TEST from God?

[Sower]

1 hour ago, George said:

No, not at all.  More like, did the COVID epidemic reveal FEAR of DEATH ...

Yes, to many...

I myself have personally not experienced before the amount of people (lost) I encounter willing to listen to the good news
It doesn't take one minute (w/HS) to get a stranger's fears and problems come out in just a casual conversation.
I have been able to 'fully' share the gospel to more people in just one year of covid than I would have ever thought.
People will listen, they want hope, and they become seekers. They are walking among us.
It is an exciting time to be a believer in Christ, who know their future.

As a believer the covid mania only strengthened my wife and I and family to more recognize more fully how the evil forces
are having more and more control over those who are in control of our lives, our 'leaders/representatives', spewing lies.
We step out in faith and go our own way against any mandates/control we believe are against our beliefs.
We saw the fear mongering media's tactics for what they were. We refused to get caught up in it, instead look forward
to encourage others the true reality of our future, and share that reality to those who have no hope. Sow the seed.


These times are a good barometer for believers to actually see just how much faith they really have. (Or not)
Are we heading/fleeing to the mountains, or, are we looking for someone to share the good news?




 

[missmuffet]

Off topic:

George where can I discuss an issue with you I have regarding Worthy? Is there anyway or anywhere I can discuss 

my concern?

[other one]

Does anyone see that the COVID epidemic is a TEST from God to see whom we would follow?

 

I personally didn't/don't see it as a test from God to see whom we would follow.  I was surprised to see it politicezed the way it was.    Huge amounts of money was involved in the vaccine program and it is my personal opinion that was a big part of the mandates for the vaccines.

As for the shutdown and masks, I think that was done out of fear.   I do not think the virus was simply done by nature and it was an attempt to starve it out the way the swine flue happened.

[George]

20 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

Off topic:

George where can I discuss an issue with you I have regarding Worthy? Is there anyway or anywhere I can discuss 

my concern?

Call me.

[missmuffet]

How do I call you? I don't have your number.

[enoob57]

1 hour ago, missmuffet said:

How do I call you? I don't have your number.

I'll email it to ya ...

[Hobie_]

2 hours ago, Josheb said:

I do not. The thought of fear or COVID as a test for whom I should fear never occurred to me. 

Nope. At least not in my own life. I will say I did witness that sort of testing in the lives of some. 

Not sure I understand the question. Why would any epidemic be a test to reveal truth? Why would an epidemic as mismanaged as this one do so? I don't think much of the truth has been revealed and from the beginning I have said it will be three or four years before any semblance of fact and truth will be had on this. 

I completely agree and since it is very clear in scripture the last days were in the New Testament era we should all be on guard about people claiming that was not the case. There is no truth in that. 

"the" deception? 

Deception is the way of the world. There has never not been deception in the world. COVID is simply a single variation on a common and recurring theme in the world. It did not need to cause any Christian any testing concerning the matters of fear, motive, or truth. Unless, perhaps, that believe had either some already existing vulnerability in those areas and/or was not yet sufficiently mature in Christ to see the dross for what it is: dross. On those occasions, those who are more like what Paul describes in Ephesians 4:12-16 should have and continue to uphold those adversely affected by what is a temporal and temporary condition. 

Ephesians 4:12-16
...for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

 

.

I suspect older people who've seen a lot weren't/aren't particularly affected adversely by the politics surrounding COVID, or the medical repercussions. Death is always a test of one's fears, motives, and perceptions of truth and that shouldn't be conflated specifically with COVID the disease. Similarly, I suspect the mature in Christ had a much different experience than the less mature. I also suspect those subscribing to the futurist eschatologies of the 19th century are the one most likely to think COVID has anything to do with the last days. The eschatology drove the angst, not the other way around. Covid has nothing to do with end times. God is sovereign even over COVID. When God decides to conclude the times we'll ALL know it and eschatological differences will be irrelevant. 

Instantly. 

 

I also think the juxtaposition of Proverbs 27:17 with 1 Corinthians 16:14 is a curious one since the former necessarily involves friction . 

 

 

Here are a few other personal observations:

When COVID-19 first became pandemic the practice for which I work gathered all the counselors together in preparation for what was then believed to be an inevitable increase in anxiety, depression, and marital or family distress - as well as a likely increase in pregnancies. 

THAT DID NOT HAPPEN!!!!!      

Nope. Instead, most people adjusted to the social distancing and having to work at home fairly well. Despite the drama on the airwaves most folks showed an amazing resilience and were adaptive. Increases in anxiety and mood dysregulation was modest at best but that was largely due to the specter of death and injury or loss of loved ones. A year later to eighteen months later, however, as restrictions eased and people began to return to "normal," THAT is when the spike in problems occurred. I am very busy right now. A lot of people LIKED working from home and the workplace is changing as I type these words. A lot of women have learned they like being home with the kids. Some men, too. Some men, not so much. A lot of people, alternatively, are having difficulty returning to real-time, face to face interactions. 

And ALL of this has spiritual impetus and spiritual consequence. 

 

 

 

How sovereign is your God? 

 

 

How well is the answer to that question acted out in life? If COVID changes the response between thought and deed, then ask "Why?" 

Matthew 6:27
And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

 

If what we believe as Christians is true: God exists, then one of THE most fundamental truths of reality is simple and unassailable. 

 

We are NOT in charge. 
 

 

So put the bit in your mouth and run into the fray. You are sons and daughter so The Most High God who can do all things in Christ. Acting as if that is true changes everything. 

Be thankful you're not in Ukraine. 

And then realize not a word I've just posted would change if you were. 

I agree, either you put your faith in God and believe, or you don't and falter in the terror of the devil and his helpers and fall away...

[missmuffet]

1 hour ago, enoob57 said:

I'll email it to ya ...

Thank you. I will take back everything I have said about you 

[Marathoner]

I'm in agreement with @Josheb.

All I have witnessed is more of the same in this world. Angst-driven reactions from some who characterize this mess, which is not dissimilar to messes in the past, as something it is not --- the fulfillment of scriptural prophecy --- doesn't help matters. 

What is good, and what is worthwhile? Caring for the needy and the widows... being a father to the fatherless... encouraging one another in holy love... and walking in the royal law to love our neighbor as ourselves. These are what concerns us for our hope and faith are in Jesus Christ, not this mess called the world of men. 

What do we have to fear? Some of us have faced the grave already, so COVID isn't a test to see if we are afraid of this flesh passing away. There are many varied and different ways for that to happen, and all of us face that each day. As the Lord said, there is evil enough in the day. COVID is a drop in the bucket, truly.

As for politicizing the otherwise apolitical, why is anyone surprised by this? That's what men do, my friends. The history of man is filled with this sort of nonsense and we should (at the very least) expect for this to occur. The modern day is not exceptional in this regard.

When our gaze is fixed upon the Son of God and we occupy ourselves with our own conduct --- and how we treat our neighbor --- we accordingly keep ourselves from being stained by the concerns of this flesh which rules the nations of man. The apostle James wrote about this very thing. 

So... this flesh will pass away one day? Good! Praise the Lord for His mercy! We have absolutely nothing to fear in Jesus Christ. We have no time for conspiracies because there's work to do in His kingdom without end.

Edited March 19, 2022 by Marathoner

[enoob57]

40 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

Thank you. I will take back everything I have said about you 

Do you think you'll live that
long