Stop Worrying About This Stupid Virus

“You guide me with your counsel, and afterwards you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You.” Psalm 73:24-25

Take this letter for what it is: uninformed. Purposely. Those who know me know I don’t listen to, watch, or read the news. I refuse to waste my time with it. And yes, it is a waste of time. This virus news blast is over the top. Is your television on news for several hours a day? Why? I know, I know, you gotta stay informed right? That’s the responsible thing to do. What a crock. Of course the media keeps saying that. “The responsible people stay informed.” Informed of what? These people who run and work for these news agencies go out and they decide what is news and what isn’t. They decide what you need to know about their world (remember, it’s not yours) and what you don’t need to concern yourself with. And you go along with it. And when I say that this is just where Satan wants you and just where God doesn’t want you, you see me as an out of touch fool. Yet when I bemoan the fact that most of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, don’t spend nearly as much time in the Word of God as you do watching, reading, and listening to the news and talk shows, you call me legalistic. Fools! You have purposely chosen to give your time to the concerns of this world; a world you are to come out from, a world you are to take no ownership of, a world you are an alien in. And yet, the world you do claim to be citizens of, The Kingdom of God, you pay much less attention to. The things that are going on in this world, a world you are called to hate along with God, are of so much more interest to you then the things of the Kingdom.

I can hear many of you now. “Everything in moderation Tom.” Really? Where do you get that? In what book of the bible does God suggest moderation in your Christian faith. Where does God ask for a fifty fifty split of your time between He and the world? It’s not in there. The truth is that you are so interested in the “news”of this world because you are so very interested in the things of this world. Your focus is on this life; on trying to make this the best life for yourself. Well that is not the gospel message. Dying to this life is. Dying to your goals, your wants, and your dreams (ouch, I know), and instead seeking to know God’s wants and God’s goals is the gospel. But you see, dying to self is not what you really want to hear, is it? You want to have your cake and eat it too. You want to have a life of fun and travel and success, AND have eternity waiting for you as well. Well, if that’s what you want, you have come to the wrong gospel. That ain’t Jesus. That ain’t Christianity. That’s a religion found only in the minds of people; made up by man; a fantasy world based not on or in the Christ of the bible, but in lies. Satan is the prince of lies, and through some people who claim to be teachers of Christ, he has deceived the church.

Paul, speaking of people in the church:

“Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven.” Philippians 3:17-20

Where is the power of Christ in the Church? Where is trust and faith and leaning not on our own understanding, but on the things of Christ? I’m hearing of so many in the church of Christ so worried about this virus and what will be the outcome? Who cares! It’s none of your concern. Honestly, are you truly worried that you are going to get sick and die, or that the lifestyle that you have become accustom to, may change? Heaven forbid. Many you act as if the sky is falling. It isn’t! This isn’t WW2. This is an unfortunate couple of months, and then things will get back to normal in short order. No rebuilding roads and infrastructure, no burying hundreds of thousands of bodies, no rebuilding factories and warehouses and homes that have been blown up. We will, most of us, just probably be poorer. And yes, some may recover slower than others. We will be forced to adjust. What, did you think you should be immune from such things because you live in the United States, or because you are Christian? You give your lifestyle MUCH more importance than God does. Unless you are sick yourself, nothing happening will keep you from your calling.

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether good or bad.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

You just live fully for Christ. You just get in and stay in Christ the Word. Your only job as His child...while on this planet that does not belong to you...is to do what He, the Word, says to do, and to be who He says to be. That’s your concern. You can do that in any financial situation and from any size home; whether you’re renting or own your home. Everything else pales in comparison. I desperately hope you are aware that only what you do for the Kingdom of God, and in the name of Jesus Christ, matters towards entrance into the next life. And the next life is the only life that matters! Stop living for the pursuit of happiness in this life. Contrary to the American Declaration of Independence and people like Joel Osteen, the pursuit of happiness is not a right given to us by God. This life is a test and no more. And it’s a test to see who will be found worthy of living in eternity with the Creator of the Universe. Want everything you can get out of this life? Fine, but contrary to what so many have been falsely led to believe, know that it comes at a great cost. A life for a life.

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39

Which life do you want more? If it’s this one, then go for it! Eat, drink, be merry, and worry, and be afraid for your future, for tomorrow you die. But if it's for the next life, then stop living for and worrying so much about this one. Lets show a lost world what is important in our lives and what isn't.