What if I get the virus? What if they don’t find a cure? What if I’m faced with death?
I am reminded of the story of John Wesley from one of my seminary professors.
He was on his way to America to evangelize the natives but had the suspicion that he was not yet converted himself. And on that voyage across the Atlantic, a sudden and fierce storm arose, tossing the HMS Simmonds back and forth across the waves. Wesley feared for his life.
What shocked him, however, was the German Pietists onboard the vessel called the Moravians. No matter how rough the seas became, they sat fearless, singing songs of praise and entrusting themselves to God’s providence. After the storm calmed Wesley asked one of them, “[Were] you not afraid?” and they replied, “I thank God, no.” Then Wesley continued, “But were not your women and children afraid?” The Moravian answered: “No, our women and children are not afraid to die.” Wesley had never seen such calm in the face of danger, and it changed his life. Not long after he came to saving faith in Christ.
Christians need to have the calm spirit of the Moravians. People are watching how we respond to this pandemic. Is our hope in this life like the rest of the world? Or do we entrust ourselves to a God of providence who commands even microscopic viruses? The reality is that we cannot add a single day to our lives. God recorded how many days we would have before we were born, as the Psalmist records: “in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Ps 139:16).
Our goal is to testify to his greatness for as many days as we have and then to go to glory with him when those days are over. As Paul said, “we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:9).
Let’s continue to show the world that we believe this! Let’s continue to let our faith be far greater than our fear!