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“There Is No New Thing Under The Sun”

by Micky Galloway

“That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us” (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10).

The COVID-19 crisis has distressed us all. We are now required to wear masks; we can buy food at groceries and drive-through-only restaurants. “Social distancing” is a word all too familiar that we did not know as little as two months ago. Online everything is now the norm and those of us who are not computer savvy are frustrated as we are forced to learn new communication skills that must be incorporated with our work skills. We’ve canceled schools, closed businesses and courthouses, shut down theaters, postponed/cancelled concerts, sporting events. All are impacted and some face financial ruin. However, the good news is, “this too shall pass.” My concern is what will life be like after COVID-19? Will we just go back to normal?

Let me suggest, we are not the only generation to endure masses dying as a result of disease. The Bible clearly describes numerous occasions when God brought plagues and diseases on His people and on His enemies.

In the ancient world, God instructed Moses to speak to Pharaoh, “for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth … But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth” (Exodus 9:14-17 NKJV). God used plagues on Egypt to force Pharaoh to free the Israelites from bondage, while sparing His people from being affected by them (cf. Exodus 12:13; 15:26). This declares God’s sovereign control over diseases and other afflictions. God also warned His people of the rewards of obedience and the consequences of disobedience, including plagues (Read: Leviticus 26). In Numbers 16:41-50, God sent a plague and destroyed 14,700 of His people for murmuring. In Numbers 25:1-9 He destroyed 24,000 people for idolatry and fornication. God commanded the people to obey the law of Moses or suffer many evils, including what sounds like disease: “Jehovah will smite thee with consumption (wasting disease, ESV), and with fever, and with inflammation, and with fiery heat, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish” (Deuteronomy 28:22). These are just a few examples of many plagues and diseases God caused. Physical calamities may or may not come directly from God’s hand. Admittedly, I do not understand all I know about the providence of God. “Man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). However, He uses such calamities to discipline His people and judge the nations (READ: II Chronicles 7:13-14; Ecclesiastes 8:17; 9:11-12; Job 1-2; Amos 4:6-13; Hebrews 12:4-11).

In more recent history, the disease known as the Black Death spread across Europe in the years 1346-1353, killing an estimated 60 million; the smallpox outbreak of 1520 killed 5 - 8 million people; the yellow fever outbreak over the course of spring and summer of 1878 killed an estimated 13,000 - 20,000. The “Third Plague” of 1855 ultimately led to more than 12 million deaths in India and China, with about 10 million in India alone. The notorious Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919 killed millions. Older estimates say it killed 40 - 50 million people while current estimates say 50 - 100 million people worldwide were killed. In the United States alone, about 28% of the population suffered, and 500,000 to 675,000 died.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 says, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider.” Consider what? During such uncertain times when so many died so quickly, perhaps we would do well to consider these immutable things.

Life Is Brief.

• James 4:14, “What is your life? for ye are as a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
• Job 14:1-2, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble, he cometh forth like a flower and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.”
• Psalms 90:10, “The days of our years are three score and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years (70 or 80 years, mg): yet is their pride but labor and sorrow, for it is soon gone, and we fly away”
• Psalms 90:12, “Teach us to number our days that we may get us a heart of wisdom.”

Death Is Certain.

• Ecclesiastes 9:5, “For the living know they shall die.”
• Hebrews 9:27, “It is appointed unto men once to die.”

There Is a Resurrection.

• I Corinthians 15:12-19, “Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.”
• Job 14:14, “If a man die, shall he live (again)? All the days of my warfare would I wait, Till my release should come.”
• Job 19:25-26, “But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth: And after my skin, (even) this (body), is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God”
• John 5:28-29, “Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.”

There Is an Appointed Time for Judgment.

• Acts 17:31, “Inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”
• Romans 14:12, “So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

There is Purpose to Life.

• Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard; Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole (duty) of man. For God will bring every work into judgment with every hidden thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.”

Perhaps with proper reflection on these things we will not just go back to normal when the COVID-19 pandemic is past.

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Pray We Don't Go Back To Normal When This Crisis Has Ended!

by Unknown

1. I pray that the next time a friend grabs me and pulls me in for a hug, I actually take the time to appreciate the gift of their embrace.
2. I pray that when school resumes and people are dropping kids off, they take the time to thank the staff for the amazing gift that they give to our community.
3. I pray that the next time I’m sitting in a crowded restaurant I take the time to look around at the smiling faces, loud voices, and thank God for the gift of community.
4. I pray that the next time I’m sitting in the church building, participating in worship with our songs, and hearing the voices of my brothers and sisters in praise that I take a moment to thank God for the gift of our spiritual family.
5. I pray that the next time I see a person or situation that needs prayer, I hope I pray as passionately and fervently as I have these past few weeks.
6. I pray that when I am at the grocery store and everything is readily available (toilet paper, cereal, rice, pinto beans, ground beef, chicken breasts, etc.) that I take a moment to thank God that He provides us with the necessities of life and the amazing people who work so hard to keep us supplied.
7. I pray that I never again take for granted the ability to hop in the car and visit a friend, go to the mall, go to a gathering, etc.

So, truth is, I don’t want things to return to the way they once were. I pray that we take the lessons and challenges of the past few weeks and create a new normal. My goal is to pray more, love harder, and truly appreciate the daily abundance of blessings that were so easily overlooked just a mere few weeks ago.