If you haven’t noticed, there seems to be a lot of chaos in our world right now with the corona virus/Covid-19 pandemic. And in all honesty, there are times when I find myself feeling anxious and discouraged; but then I always find a way to bounce back emotionally. I am reminded of the blessings I have, which brings peace to my heart; and then out of that peace arises hope. I have hope that we’re going to get through this; but then I realize that not everyone has hope, and not everyone has peace. Not everyone has what I have in Christ. The Lord has been bringing a passage to mind over and over; one that is encouraging to me; but I feel impressed that it’s not something just for me. I believe the Lord wants me to share it with others; and so I’m bringing a message this morning called, “The Cure for the Corona Virus Blues.”
We Must Focus on the Positive Things (vv. 6-8)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing.” I don’t know about your experience, but when I look on the internet to catch up with the latest news about the corona virus, all I see is bad news; and when I get off the computer I feel really stressed out. When I look at Facebook, people are posting doom and gloom and political drama. It’s really easy to get down in the dumps, or be driven to a state of despair and panic when we listen to what other people are saying. For example, the rate of suicides has climbed sharply during this pandemic. The headline of one news article states, “More People Died from Suicide than Coronavirus in Tennessee This Week.”
Some of us are cooped up in social isolation with cabin fever, which is hard; but that’s the least of the problems we could be facing. Others are laid off or fired from their jobs with little to no income, being unable to pay the bills or put food on the table. Some people have the corona virus, or know someone who has it, and their loved one might be fighting for their life. So, when you add to this mix seeing and hearing bad news, it just amplifies the emotional impact; and let me tell you, it’s taking a toll on people’s sanity and even their lives. Even me sharing these observations is probably really stressful, so I think I had better change the subject! Amen?
So, based on what the Scripture says, we need to first of all pray about the things that are creating anxiety. There is power in prayer. Jesus said, “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24); so let’s get busy praying for provision for those who have lost their jobs, praying for healing for those with the corona virus, praying for protection for all the medical workers, praying for wisdom for our state and national leaders, and praying about anything that is simply out of our control. Let’s place it all in the hands of the Father!
Now, here’s something else we need to consider based on what the Scripture says: We need to stop looking at all the bad news! This might translate as, “We need to limit our time on Facebook” or “limit our time spent watching the big news networks.” We need to get our mind out of the statistics, away from the death toll reports, and simply out of the gutter; and focus on – for lack of a more spiritual term – things that are “positive.” You see, it’s not just about abstaining from the negative, it’s about adding or supplementing with the positive. We are to refocus on, or fill our minds with, things that are “pure” and “lovely,” for example, or things that are of “good report.”
Let’s quickly look at what’s mentioned here and see if we can come up with some examples. “Whatever things are true.” With all the fake news, it’s nearly impossible to find something true in the evening news. The only thing true I know of that we can focus on are the words of the Bible. So, let’s catch up on that devotional time with God. “Whatever things are just.” The word “just” means, “based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair.” Perhaps we can get involved with something where we’re helping those who are on the front lines of this pandemic, such as sewing masks or helping pass out food. Perhaps we can help the elderly and widows of our church by calling them or picking up groceries.
“Whatever things are pure.” In my mind, there is nothing more pure than the love we share with our family. How pure a moment it is when we go for a walk in the field with our children picking wildflowers! How pure a moment it is to sit at the table and have a meal together with our family, or sit around a campfire together! “Whatever things are lovely.” God’s creation is something that’s lovely! Our world has become so fast-paced that many of us can’t remember the last time we looked up at the stars, or watched a season unfold in all its splendor! Well, right now we are blessed to have this kind of time to share with our families.
“Whatever things are of good report.” Well, if you’re set on catching up with the latest news, then make it a point to search out good news. The internet searches we make are usually based on personal bias or predominant mindset. Some of us are just glass half-empty people and we gravitate toward the negative news. If we are full of worry, then we might search out the death tolls; but if we’re full of hope, we would search out the recoveries. And it might be helpful to tune in to a conservative news channel, instead of a liberal one. Just saying!
“If there is any virtue and . . . anything praiseworthy.” “Virtue” is defined as, “behavior showing high moral standards,” which brings us back to “whatever things are just,” and “praiseworthy” is defined as, “deserving approval or admiration.” So, we should be praising, approving and admiring the things that are just; that demonstrate a high moral standard. Right now, we can be praising everyone working on the front lines of this pandemic, from the doctors and nurses, to the first responders; and even the checkout person at the grocery store.
We are told to “meditate on these things.” To “meditate” means, “to think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time.” Our mood and our actions always follow our thoughts, so if we want to feel better and even act more civil and Christlike during these difficult days, then we had better start focusing on, and meditating on, all the positive things in our life and in the world; and this will bring us back to what we read about in verse 7. Meditating on all these good and positive things will make it so “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (v. 7).
We Can Do All Things through Christ (vv. 11b-13)
11 For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
How many of us right now are having a hard time with contentment? Social isolation is something we’re just not used to, and something we’re simply not made for. People are making memes and jokes right now about how introverts are doing great with isolation, but that’s bogus! God didn’t make us to be an island unto ourselves. We all need each other. Being unable to go to our favorite restaurant, or hang out at the mall, is a hard adjustment. And for believers, being unable to see our brothers and sisters in Christ at church is really weighing on us!
Let me tell you something interesting about Paul and what was going on in his life when he wrote the letter to the Philippians. “Internal evidence in the letter itself points clearly to it being composed while Paul was in custody, but it is unclear which period of imprisonment the letter refers to” (Wikipedia). It could be the Roman imprisonment at the end of Acts (Acts 28:30-31), or perhaps the earlier Caesarean imprisonment (Acts 23-26). But here’s Paul in extreme social isolation, saying “I have learned how to be content.” Wow!
Paul tells us that during his lifetime, especially during his years of ministry, that he’s had times of abundance and times of want. He’s had fruitful seasons in ministry and times where all was quiet; he’s had money to buy food, and then been on the verge of starvation; he’s had the ability to purchase clothes and have a roof over his head, and then seen times where he was nearly homeless; and as we just learned, he was even put in prison for extensive periods. But through it all, he said that he’s learned how to go through these times – both good and bad – and be content, no matter what life threw at him.
I’m sure that many of us are struggling right now with anxiety about how to provide for our families; some of us are going stir crazy; and others are frustrated that they can’t be involved in the activates that used to bring so much enjoyment and fulfillment. We are probably wishing we could be content and have that sense of peace that Paul describes. No matter how cliché it might sound, Paul tells us that we can find contentment and peace in Christ. He tells us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Time of Reflection
For us to be able to do all things through Christ, or “endure” all things through Christ; and have “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (v. 7); we first have to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and secondly, find our identity in Christ.
Knowing Jesus begins by first acknowledging our state of existence without Him; that we are lost sinners. Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Isaiah 59:2 tells us that sin leads to being separated from God; and if we’re separated from God, then simply put, we cannot have a relationship with Him. This means we cannot have His comfort and peace in times of trouble; but more devastating than this is, we cannot go to heaven.
Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sin leads to eternal separation from God, which is called spiritual death; however, God wants to give us a gift – “eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is the good news of the gospel! Knowing Jesus leads to being reconciled with God; thus, receiving the forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
Knowing Jesus happens by secondly confessing Him as Savior and Lord. “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” the Scripture says. Jesus is God’s gift. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” God “gave” us Jesus. He sent His one and only Son to die for our sins on a cross. According to the Bible, “we” are supposed to die for our sins; but Jesus stepped in and took our place in death; He died on our behalf, taking the penalty of sin on Himself, that we might be acquitted of sin, and be free from condemnation and death. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Jesus not only died on a cross for our sins, but He rose from the grave victorious over sin and death; and we are supposed to confess our faith in who He is and what He did. Romans 10:9-11 says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame’.”
So, I said that if we are going to be able to do all things, and endure all things, through Christ, then we first have to know Him as Savior and Lord; and secondly, we need to find our identity in Christ. So, what is our identity in Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” We are the righteousness of God in Christ! But let me go deeper. Finding our identity in Christ means making Jesus our life; having Him as our all-consuming passion; and letting this declaration of who we are be the very thing defines us. Many of us find our identity and passion in our job, our net worth, our activities and hobbies, our social status, and our relationships. But when we lose any of these things, then we are left feeling empty, useless and worthless.
Paul was able to do all things, and endure all things, through Christ – even social isolation by imprisonment – because he knew Jesus as his Savior and Lord, and because Jesus was his life and his everything. He always had Jesus, even when everything else fell apart. He realized that Jesus would always be with him. Some scholars believe that Paul may have written the book of Hebrews, and Hebrews 13:5 says, “Be content with such things as you have. For [Jesus] Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’.”
When we find our identity in Christ, then in times of adversity, we will be able to have the same confidence as Paul, as he demonstrated in 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Listen as I share his words: “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed . . . Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18).
So, in closing, I encourage all believers in Christ: Rather than being focused on the outward, physical and temporary things – things that can be troubling – stay focused on the inward, spiritual things; such as the hope, peace, and security that we find in Christ; the One who will never leave us or forsake us. And it is my hope and prayer, that if you do not know Jesus Christ, that you will come to know Him today by confessing Him as Savior and Lord of your life.
