Life Interrupted
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
PREFACE: - The other day I saw a post by my friend Apostle Sammy Smith that said “God said He must Interrupt The Routine”!!!! By Any Means Necessary!” Apostle I felt that so much I just wanted to build upon it. Thank you and Glory to God for such a powerful statement.
It is sad and I truly feel for those who have lost their lives from this disease, for those that are currently suffering, and for the families, and communities that are being affected. I want to encourage and give a word of comfort to all those who have been gripped by fear over coronavirus and its effect on our day-to-day lives.
During this time we can learn much about God, our relationship to Him during this time of crisis, develop a closer walk with Him, build our prayer life, and totally learn how to lean and depend upon God through these trying times. In this day and time of modern technology we can see almost in real time the effects it is having on every country on the planet. At any given time, we can see the rising death tolls and where it seems to be making a turn for the better.
Nearly a 100 years ago or so, a strain of influenza known as Spanish flu caused a global pandemic, spreading rapidly and killing indiscriminately. Young, old, sick and otherwise-healthy people all became infected, and at least 10% of patients died. Estimates vary on the exact number of deaths caused by the disease, but it is thought to have infected a third of the world's population and killed at least 50 million people, making it the deadliest pandemic in modern history. In 2014, a new theory about the origins of the virus suggested that it first emerged in China, National Geographic reported. Previously undiscovered records linked the flu to the transportation of Chinese laborers, the Chinese Labour Corps, across Canada in 1917 and 1918. This current pandemic seems to be following the same pattern as the Spanish Flu did, as the old saying goes “Coincidence I Don’t Think So”. From 1918 to 1919, an estimated 500 million people worldwide contracted what we now know as the H1N1 virus, and 50 million died as a result—675,000 in the United States alone. During this pandemic churches and ministers complied with health department mandates to close their meetings and quarantine those who were sick. They recognized that they needed to protect people in the cities they lived in. On several occasions, ministers canceled revival meetings because influenza was spreading across the town. Some saw the epidemic as resistance to the great work God was doing. Even so, they viewed the painful reality of human mortality as a greater impulse to reach the lost.
As Spirit-filled people of God consider how to respond to the current crisis, we can learn some things through this historical example:
First, the people of God endured the worst flu pandemic to that point in history. Although they believed in healing, they didn’t claim that their faith alone in God would protect them from the disease. Many caught the flu; and yes, even some died. Yet, they continued to proclaim that God was a healer, and many were preserved through the flu or healed of it. In either case, they overcame by their faith in God and the word of their testimony.
Second, worship and ministry were interrupted by the crisis. Churches had to close their doors, Missions were closed. Revivals were canceled. Yet, the Pastors, churches, and people followed the guidelines of the city or health department and closed their churches and missions when instructed to. They were not careless with the lives of people during the pandemic. They were willing to stay home and pray, knowing that that was just as valuable in the crisis.
The CDC estimates that 32 to 49 million Americans contracted influenza this past year and 20,000 to 50,000 died. That’s fairly on par with a typical season, and well below the CDC’s 2017-2018 estimates of 48.8 million illnesses, 959,000 hospitalizations and 79,400 deaths.
Therefore, the Coronavirus is very scary, the uncertainty, the rapid spread, the quick decline in a person’s health causes us to look at our own mortality. If you have been born again you have no reason to fear that. If you haven’t repented of your sins and gave your life to Jesus today, right now is a perfect opportunity to do just that. With a sincere heart repent of your sins, confess with your mouth that Jesus died for your sins and was raised again, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, make 180 degree turn away from that unrepented life-style and start from this very moment to live your life according to the Word of God. THEN:- once this Pandemic is passed find yourself a True BIBLE believing church and a Pastor that Preaches the Unadulterated WORD OF GOD, complete the requirements of Baptism in Jesus name, become connected with that Spiritual family and hold on to God’s unchanging hand.
That being said:- The Bible has a lot to say about “pestilence” and our response to it! The word translated “pestilence” is often translated as “plague”. Remember a pestilence is according to Strong’s Greek Concordance 3061. loimos loy'-mos of uncertain affinity; a plague (literally, the disease, or figuratively, a pest):-pestilence.
Jesus often described the End Times as being “birth pangs.” Just as labor pains grow stronger and closer together, God will allow escalation in trials of all kinds to bring men to Christ. In fact, the purpose of the Tribulation itself is to bring pressure for men to surrender to Jesus and find salvation.
Jesus describes End Time events in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Here’s what Jesus said in Luke 21:
Matthew 24:3 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world”.
Matthew 24:4-8 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places All these are the beginning of sorrows”.
So, understanding those versus and understanding end-times THE QUESTIONS BECOME – “Why Does God Allow things like the Coronavirus and Other Disasters to happen”? Remember the title of this message is Life Interrupted. Understand first and foremost God is trying to get our attention. He is soon to return, and He hates the death of the wicked (anyone not Saved) – Ezekiel 33:10-12. We, the entire planet has become comfortable with life the way we were living. Our living had become so fast paced and uncaring that we barely settled down long enough to as the saying goes smell the roses. We live as if there was no God and accountability for what we do was non-existent. We have placed everything up as God in our lives, jobs, cars, relationships, money, careers, etc. We have gotten to place where wrong is called right and right is called wrong. We have accepted every diabolical thing as a norm in life. Our lives have become so busy we didn’t have time for God, family, or self. We ran chasing the might dollar when no man can serve two masters. Our place of assembling had become the bars and sports stadiums, our worship had become tainted with mediocrity and superfluous rhetoric, spiritual leaders had become more concern with self-gratitude and monetary prosperity than for souls being saved. Worship centers have become more of places for tourist rather than for worshippers. We literally I believe, were living life as it was in the days of Noah and before the rains come God Interrupted our lives because we literally failed to realize that the world is broken and that we are sinful.
Therefore, God had to interrupt our lives in order to: -
To Get Our Attention: - God used plagues to deliver the enslaved Jews from their Egyptian overlords. Exodus 9:8-11. God will also pour out plagues during the Tribulation to bring God-rejecters to faith in Christ. The way coronavirus spreads quickly from person to person is a foreshadowing of the way God will pronounce judgment in Revelation. He had to interrupt our lives in order to get the attention of mankind.
To Teach Obedience: - Moses proclaimed the blessings of following Jehovah and the consequences of forsaking Him to teach obedience to the Israelites. In Deuteronomy 28, Moses promises children, wealth, food and safety. He warns that if Israel refuses to listen and obey, He will curse them instead.
To Destroy Pride: - God called King David “the man after God’s own heart.” But the consequences of David’s sins didn’t only impact his family. David proudly counted his army, defying God’s strict warning to humbly trust Him. So, David had three punishments from which to choose to pay for his pride: three years of famine, three months of defeat from enemies, or three days of plague 2 Samuel 24:13. God relents when we humble ourselves. The Bible says in James 4:10 “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you.” The world really had not been a humble place in a long time.
That we will understand Gratitude: - The Jews complained to Moses about manna. They demanded meat. God answered their ungrateful prayers and sent them quail. He also punished them with a poisonous plague. Numbers 11:31-33. Those who worship with thankful hearts receive God’s blessing. Psalm 103:2-3 “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all of his benefits, who forgives all your sins and heals your diseases.”
To Destroy Idolatry: - Idolatry in our day usually revolves around money. Ezekiel 7 prophesies the destruction of the Jewish economy (buying and selling) to call His people to put away idols. God hates idolatry Exodus 20:3. Jesus said Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
To Reveal His Power:- In Job 42 God permitted Satan to inflict disease upon Job so that He could reveal His majesty and power Himself to His faithful servant. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”
Today is Palm Sunday and begins what is called Holy Week leading up to the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us focus our attention on Jesus. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”. Believing God at His word, do more praying instead of more listening to the news, practice social distancing, obeying those that have rule over is how we are going to make it through this pandemic.
IN CLOSING:- I pray you find comfort in the word to a wonderful gospel song I remember from my childhood and being brought up in the church “His Eye is on the Sparrow” Why should I feel discouraged Why should the shadows come Why should my heart feel lonely And long for heaven and home When Jesus is my portion A constant friend is He His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches over me His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches me.
I sing because I'm happy I sing because I'm free His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches me (He watches me) His eye is on the sparrow And I know He watches I know He watches I know He . Acknowledgment: - His Eye Is on the Sparrow" is a Gospel hymn written in 1905 by lyricist Civilla D. Martin and composer Charles H. Gabriel.
Bishop Melvin Maughmer, Jr.
