A Christian Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

As of July 7, 2021, four million people have died from COVID-19. Positive results from vaccination are being offset by a new variant which has been described as COVID-19 on steroids. It seems that COVID-19 can strip away almost any underpinning of life. In the past 16 months, millions of people have lost their health, even their lives, millions have lost their jobs and billions have lost freedom to live the way they were accustomed.

For some time I have been praying that people would turn to that which can’t be taken away-abundant life today and eternal life in the future through the finished work of Jesus Christ. As the pandemic has continued, I have been deeply concerned about how I should be praying. It is easier to know that our society has spiritual needs than to know how to make a positive impact. Some think we are entering the judgment phase of Revelation, others think that COVID is God’s way of punishing this generation for flagrantly rejecting God’s Word. This is a difficult time but it is not a time for Christians to despair. Our God is sovereign and in control. The issue is how should Christians respond in light of the truth we have.

We may be close to end-time judgment but we are not there, yet. The Word of God declares in Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The Bible clearly proclaims that Christians will not go through the Tribulation. We will be caught up to be with the Lord Jesus and serve with Him. Yet, this is a generation that has turned away from God and turned to itself. Is COVID God’s punishment on those who have died from COVID? Consider the words of Jesus in John 9:1-5, As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

I believe Christians should not be pointing fingers at unbelievers but at ourselves. Jesus declared that we must work the works of Him who sent me. Do we who have the truth, live the truth? This time is a wake-up call for Christians. The longer this pandemic continues, the more I believe Christians should bring back a word from the past, revival. That word has been missing in our conversations for a long time. It may seem like an old fashioned word but it points to our need to major on majors. Christians are called to be light in the darkness, even the darkness of COVID-19. Churches are called to be lighthouses leading people to an institution founded by Jesus Christ where He is head. I am not surprised that unbelievers live like the world. I am concerned when Christians live like the world.

Throughout the history of the church, there have been moments when the light of eternity has shone on our society. It has been too many years since there has been a nationwide revival. If ever there was a time we need revival, it is now. I encourage you to consider revival as something worth considering, not necessarily for others, but for you.

Let’s become more familiar with revival. Christian History magazine presented a pattern for revivals. First, they are usually preceded by a time of spiritual depression, apathy and gross sin. Nominal Christians are hardly different from members of secular society. Churches seem to be asleep. Second, an individual or small group of God's people becomes conscious of their sins with vows to forsake all that displeases God. Third, there is an awakening of Christians who desire to experience God's power as a result of their awareness of God's holiness, resulting in deepened spiritual lives. Fourth, revival may be God's means of preparing and strengthening His people for future challenges or trials.

America has been impacted by a number of revivals, the three most prominent are called Great Awakenings. The First Great Awakening was led by Jonathan Edwards who in 1734, stressed evangelism with a series of sermons on justification by faith. Also, he promoted personal holiness. He not only proclaimed the Gospel of Christ but illustrated the power of Christ in his life. This is evident in the following selected resolutions.

• I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory.

• To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find,

and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

• To do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of

mankind in general.

• Never hence-forward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and

altogether God’s.

As I consider the life of Jonathan Edwards, I am reminded of a saying from Professor Howard Hendricks of Dallas Theological Seminary. When he was impressed with an individual, Prof would say, May his tribe increase. May the likes of Jonathan Edward's tribe increase in our day. May we be people of God with a passion for evangelism and hearts for God. May a Great Awakening start in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Second Great Awakening began in 1801 at the Cane Ridge camp meeting in Kentucky, where as many as 3,000 were converted. A key leader of this revival was Timothy Dwight, grandson of Jonathan Edwards. He became president of Yale in 1795 and revival broke out under his administration and direction in 1802, 1808, 1812, and 1815. Also, revivals occurred at Princeton, Williams, Amherst, and Hampden-Sydney. The Benevolent Empire is another term which described this revival. It emphasized abolition of slavery and the need to clean up society. This pursuit led to the development of volunteer societies which included the American Bible Society, American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the American Sunday School Union and the American Tract Society.

The Third Great Awakening was also called, The Layman Prayer Revival and began in New York City in 1857. It was characterized by prayer and lay leadership. There was an almost universal lack of emotional excesses that so deeply characterized the Second Great Awakening. Large prayer meetings took place in major cities. Estimates of conversions were listed at one million in the United State and another million in England and Ireland.

Revival has been a wonderful tool used by God in our country. Can it happen again? I believe it is God’s will throughout the Church Age. The issue is with us. Revival means a renewal of interest after spiritual neglect. It is a heartfelt return to God and His commandments. Take time to consider the following passages, 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 51:10; Psalm 40:3; Isaiah 40:31.

Revival, or spiritual renewal, should be the norm. Jesus gives an open invitation to renewal in John 7:37-38, . . . If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” It demands no more than what our triune God deserves. It is loving God who loves you. It is submitting to the Holy Spirit who indwells you. It is pursuing spiritual disciplines which encourages conformity to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. Take heart by heeding the words of ones who have gone before us.

• Pray - Only pray that our life may be ordered to the advantage of our soul,

Basil (4th C. A.D.)

• Pore through Scripture - As in paradise, God walks in the Holy Scriptures, seeking

man. Ambrose (4th C. A.D.)

• Be Passionate - The core problem is not that we are too passionate about bad

things, but that we are not passionate enough about good things. Has the Word of

God become your passion?, Howard Hendricks

• Persevere - Never despair of finding Him...Seek Him by desire, follow Him through

action, and in faith you will find Him, Bernard of Clairvaux (12th C. A.D.)

• Prioritize - Husband, love your wife; wife, love your husband; parents, love your

children; elders, love your flock.

May spiritual renewal be a daily passion so that revival may spread from your heart and mine to family, friends and neighbors, here and around the world.

I encourage you to visit www.crimsonministries.org and read of the great revivals in more detail. Look for Revival - God Rocking Our World, under Topical Studies and The Great Awakening - Stories of Revival under Topical Studies and then in Twelve Points of Light (Point 12).

Seeing Jesus more clearly through an observation of Melchizedek

The writer of Hebrews was concerned that his readers were unable to understand core truths. Specifically, he feared that spiritual immaturity would hinder their ability to comprehend Jesus’ role as priest. In chapter 5, the writer declared that Jesus was designated a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. The priesthood of Jesus would become a major theme in Hebrews but was set aside until he made the same statement concerning Melchizedek in Hebrews 6:20, opening his discourse in chapter 7.

R. Kent Hughes takes us back to that time when the writer of Hebrews comprehended the import of what he would be directed to teach in chapters 7 through 10, Imagine for a moment that you are the writer of Hebrews writing to encourage the soon-to-be persecuted Jewish church. Also imagine yourself reflecting both on Melchizedek’s history and this prophecy—and then you make the connection! Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the prophecy! He is a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. What a privilege to understand the role of Jesus as not only Prophet and Priest but also, High Priest.

The Bible has many topics that can draw our attention. Too often, our focus can be on the type and not the reality. Consider Psalm 110:4, a messianic passage which identifies Jesus as a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Order is qualitative in that the uniqueness of Melchizedek was comparable to that of Jesus. Raymond Brown, It is not Jesus who resembles Melchizedek, but Melchizedek who resembles the Lord Jesus. Melchizedek is not the focus but one who illustrates the functions, characteristics and attributes of the primary individual, Jesus.

Melchizedek entered recorded history 2,000 years before Christ, he returned 1,000 years later in a psalm of David, not to return again for another 1,000 years when the writer of Hebrews fed meat to those who were accustomed to drinking milk. So, what are the functions and characteristics of our High Priest as seen in Melchizedek?

First, let’s consider functions and characteristics. Melchizedek was a king and priest, so is Jesus. It was impossible for a Levitical priest to be a king. Warren Wiersbe, . . . in the Old Testament economy, the throne and the altar were separated. Those persons who attempted to invade the priests’ office were judged by God. But here is a man who had both offices—king and priest! Aaron never had that privilege. Not only are we taught that Jesus is King and Priest but we learn that He is righteous and gives peace. R. Kent Hughes, . . . Melchizedek foreshadowed the character of Christ—his kingship, his priesthood, his righteousness, and his peace. Philip E. Hughes, As king he is just, and as priest he justifies all who trust in his atoning sacrifice.

Second, consider attributes as revealed by the life of Melchizedek. The fact that Melchizedek had no record of his genealogy concerns lack of priestly qualifications and not miraculous existence. Melchizedek and Jesus could not be Levitical priests which required proven ancestry back to Aaron. Some believed that Melchizedek was an angelic being or even the pre-incarnate Christ. The force of the passage is that a new priesthood now supersedes the priesthood of Aaron, a priesthood without lineage but by the appointment of the Most High God.

In addition to no genealogy, there is the issue of no record of birth or death. Levitical priests served a limited term of service, no more than 30 years. Chrysostom (4th C.), We know of no beginning or end in either case; in the one, because none are recorded; in the other, because they do not exist. Now, there is a priest whose term of service is forever!

It would be interesting to learn more about Melchizedek. But, the point of the letter to the Hebrews is to learn more about Jesus, our High Priest. In Hebrews 7:1-3, we learn that Jesus is our King and our Priest. He is righteous and gives peace. He is our High Priest Who is not bound to the Levitical priesthood but Whose appointment was by God the Father, forever! These functions, characteristics and attributes of Melchizedek emphasize the majesty of our High Priest and should encourage the readers not to turn back to Judaism but to hold fast to Jesus.

Let’s always focus on the reality and not the type. I encourage you to join the study of Hebrews 7:1-3 under the Books of the Bible tab. Majoring on majors is best.

It is good to have an Anchor who is our Forerunner!

Hebrews 6 is an amazing chapter. It can bring us low but then lift us to spiritual heights. It is a chapter for those serious about their faith in Jesus Christ. It is for those who want to be faithful, to be accountable, to have hope despite the circumstances, to know what was started by faith will be completed by grace.

For a few moments, I encourage you to join me on that spiritual ride from one section of Hebrews 6, verses19 and 20, We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. The possibility of apostasy is replaced with the certainty of victory. Dependence on human effort is displaced by a settled hope in the one who is the anchor of our souls and forerunner of our future inheritance. These verses picture Jesus as our hope based on His function and order.

First, Jesus is described as our anchor. William L. Lane, As a ship is held fast when at anchor, the life of the Christian is secured by hope that binds that life to Christ, who has entered the heavenly sanctuary . . . His presence behind the curtain is the firm pledge that we also shall pass through the curtain and enter within the inner sanctuary . . . The curtain separated the outer sanctuary from the inner sanctuary (the Holy of Holies). Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies and then only once per year on the Day of Atonement. When Jesus, died on the cross, that curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. Warren Wiersbe rightly proclaims, Anchored heavenward! How much more secure can you be? Because of Jesus’ function as anchor of our souls, we each have direct access to God at all times. What a hope and reality!

Second, Jesus is described as our forerunner. Consider the words of Marvin Vincent, The Levitical high priest did not enter the sanctuary as a forerunner, but only as the people’s representative. He entered a place into which none might follow him, in the people’s stead, and not as their pioneer. The peculiarity of the new economy is that Christ as High Priest goes nowhere that His people cannot follow Him. He introduces man into full fellowship with God. Jesus not only anchors our hope to the throne of God but guides us to His very presence. Be encouraged by Hebrews 4:14, Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Our hope is based not only on Jesus’ function but on His order, as well. One might understand order as class or type. The order was qualitative in that the uniqueness of Melchizedek was comparable to that of Jesus which is eternal and not in the line of Aaronic priests. R. Kent Hughes, We are anchored in the Father’s presence for eternity—and Jesus at his right hand perpetually intercedes for his Church. His continual priestly prayer for us is the medium for our survival. The fear of apostasy is replaced by the hope of living forever in the presence of God. Charles Spurgeon, Has He gone as a forerunner of those who may after all perish on the road? God forbid. Where our Head is, there must the members be before long.

It is comforting to know that our hope is not based on our ability to keep ourselves but in Jesus’ ability keep us. I encourage you to join the study of Hebrews 6:13-20 under the Books of the Bible tab. Let’s rejoice with R. Kent Hughes, . . . we have reason to be optimistic—we have an anchor for the soul.