Covid _ Confidence Over Viral Infectious Disease

In a message a few weeks ago I used the story of the Golden Gate Bridge. At the time it was completed in 1937, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. During the first phase of the project 23 men fell to their deaths in the icy water. Workers were hard to keep due to the poor working conditions and lack of safety. When it was halfway completed, the work was halted, and the project was re-evaluated. They suspended the work and installed a huge “safety net” at a cost of $100,000, a large sum in the early 1930’s and quite frankly, added greatly to an already over-budget bottom-line. Was it worth the cost and the time it took to do this? Ask the 10 men who fell without being injured! Not only did it save 10 lives, the remainder of the work was completed in 3/4 the time because the workers no longer lived in fear of falling. After the net was installed no one lost their life on the project and efficiency on the job increased by 25%. Having that safety-net under them gave the workers confidence and made them more efficient! This morning we are going to examine God’s safety-net.

In December of 2019 the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Wuhan, China. In less than 3 months, the coronavirus, the virus causing COVID-19 was recognized as a Global Pandemic on March 11, 2020 by the World Health Organization. As of today, March 22, there are 317,312 confirmed cases worldwide, including 26,909 confirmed in the US; the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic is in full swing. COVID-19 is an acronym that stands for COronaVIrus Disease of 2019. It is a form of the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) virus, a virus first identified in 2003 and it is causing worldwide panic. This morning I want to look at another acronym, COVID: Confidence Over Viral Infectious Disease! We are going to look at the truth of God’s Word that can help us to be more confident and efficient.

The circumstances surrounding our text this morning are nothing new. The Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome, where previously Timothy had been with Him. Paul had been released but had returned some years later and was again censured and imprisoned. This time Timothy was in Ephesus, so Paul wrote for him to come. All of his friends had abandoned him except Luke, and it seems he needed those he could rely on in a time of trial. This is the last epistle the Apostle Paul wrote. He was expecting to soon be put to death (4:6-8). Since it was written just before Paul’s martyrdom, it’s important, and should be regarded as the dying counsel of an important apostle. Every word has weight and there is a sense of last-minute importance of matters nearest Paul’s heart.

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

(8) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, (9) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, (10) but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (11) for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. (12) For this reason, I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. (13) Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

(14) Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:7-14)

Paul understood that we don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we DO KNOW Who holds tomorrow! For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. We don’t have to worry, fret and fear instead we can be confident by

I. Resting in God’s Power (7-10) (8) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God. We know that God is in control! He is sovereign. This virus did not catch Him by surprise. He is not on His throne, wringing His hands and wondering what to do next. He is not insensitive, ignorant OR incapable of action! The word “sovereign” is both a noun and verb. As a verb it means, “to rule,” and as a noun it means “king” or “absolute ruler.” To say that God is sovereign is to say that God is in charge of the entire universe at all times. One definition is this: “He ordains whatever comes to pass.” In a nutshell, God’s sovereignty means that He is absolutely free to do as He pleases and to demonstrate His absolute control over the actions of the entirety of His creation. He permits, for reasons known only to Himself, people to act contrary to His revealed will, but He never allows them to act against His sovereign will. Consider these verses: