COVID-19. Coronavirus is a new virus that has impacted the
public psyche. What is cause for concern and measures of containment, has in many
ways become media-driven fear. I am choosing my words carefully here. Concern
is certainly valid. It must be addressed and taken seriously for the public
good. Panic is another thing altogether, however, its fervency seeming disproportionate
to the cause. We seem to have forgotten we are mortal and life is full of dangerous things. That is the problem,
though. We thought we could contain life within the parameters of human ability.
One of the things the West has learned is that our presumption
has failed. We presumed we could control life with money, institutions, and exalted
human capacity. Our worldview being based on thinking we know everything, we
believe our finger is on the pulse of all things and our hands are moving the
levers controlling it. A virus reminds us we are not in control of everything. With
such a crumbling foundation proven unsound, the reaction is panic.
It is God’s world, in which He rules as sovereign. We need
Him. We are needy by design, but sadly self-worshiping by nature. Thankfully, God
offers His grace in His Son, if we seek His face. Such foundation stands.
As we address this situation with the appropriate care and
compassion called for, we may be grateful for the gift of life. It has value because
God created us. We cannot keep every challenge perfectly at bay within the structure
of human will, but we can seek the Almighty in our need.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them
will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and
the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not
fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” (Jesus, Matthew 7:24-27)
