Faith

 

   My sweet mom, who is now blissfully enjoying Heaven and being in the presence of her Lord, was plagued with crippling arthritis a good part of her adult life.

   We discussed from time-to-time the people who were praying for her.  Her response was, “pray for a cure so no one will suffer”.  She was sweet that way,  always thinking of others.  She was kind and gentle and caring about the needs of others.  She didn’t want a cure just for her.  She wanted one for everyone.

   With the current covid situation the memory of her response, “pray for a cure so no one will suffer” came to my mind.  People are fearful. And countless people are praying for an answer.  Fearful of the virus, fearful of the vaccine, fearful of the future.  A loss of trust in those who govern and those who report the news, only makes this fear worse.  And, in the midst of this, many people are praying for someone’s healing.  And many are praying as my mom suggested a prayer for an answer for the many.

    The decisions that have to be made are very personal issues. To some it is very much a faith issue. (I’m going to trust God to take care of me.)  For some it is a looking out for others issue. (I’m going to do everything I know to do, wear a mask, get a shot, stay home…etc.) so no one will get sick from me.  And, for some, it is a different kind of exercising of faith.  It is an issue of trusting God….kind of like how my mom prayed.  Like looking at a bigger picture. “Pray that all who suffer can be helped”.

   Maybe the virus did start from wicked roots, or from an accident. Maybe
untrustworthy men are making political gains with the whole issue.  Maybe greedy men are getting rich from this pandemic with all the testing and studies and vaccines. 

    Even if every ugly thing is true, God is still in control, and God is an expert in using fallen (even corrupt) men to accomplish His purposes. God cares about the suffering of His created ones.  I’m quite sure He cares about the individual as well as the many. I can picture God giving men knowledge to help the suffering ones. Is it quite possible that God has had a hand in providing the world a means for some healing and relief.  My faith says that God can do things on a large scale that will bless the many right in the midst of corruption.

   Sometimes God blesses and heals individually and sometimes God blesses and heals the masses.  Our salvation came to us (removal of the virus of sin) thru the blood of Jesus Christ our Redeemer.  He is the cure.  We come to him, invite Him in, and the horrible stain and penalty of sin is gone.  That was done for the many, for the masses. One by one as they come.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

  If someone’s faith draws them to say I will trust God alone to take care of me….it is still faith.  If someone’s faith leads them to believe God has a hand in the remedies available, it is still faith.  Ridicule when someone differs from you is unhelpful.  Praying for one another is the better choice.  God will sort out a man’s heart.

   According to Galatians 5:22 God’s Spirit within us will lead us toward love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Love one another, pray for one another.  Blessings.

                                                                                        bl