LIFE AND DEATH ARE IN GOD’S HANDS
LIFE AND DEATH ARE IN GOD’S HANDS
The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. —I Samuel 2:6-7
If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death. —I Samuel 2:25
And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. —I Samuel 3:13
“See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand. —Deuteronomy 32:39
So Gad went to David and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Take your choice: three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord—days of plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.” David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.” —I Chronicles 21:11-13
He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love. —Job 37:13
“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! —Luke 12:4-5
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” —Luke 12:20-21
That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. —I Corinthians 11:30-32
For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”—Revelation 6:17
After reading the verses above is there any question that God is using this virus as a judgment? You better know He is and it is to get the attention first of His Church to be His Church and all that that means summed up in Matthew 22:37-40, Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:19-20. This is who the Church is to be and what the Church is to be about.
But also this is a wake-up call to the unsaved world. A virus like this doesn’t care if you are rich, poor, in a power position or not, if you are a self proclaimed atheist or agnostic or of some religious background. When death comes knocking it enters without being invited in. Those fearful over this virus should be fearful for their eternal destiny being in the Lake of Fire if they do not call in the Name of the Lord to be saved (Romans 10:13; Revelation 20:15). For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2). Call on Him and be saved (I Corinthians 10:13). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYZw0dfLmLk&t=9s
Dear Father You are a God of mercy and grace, of love and compassion, but also of wrath and judgment. Be pleased to extend mercy and grace in this time of difficulty around the world. But also be pleased to use this time to encourage Your Church to be more what You desire it to be and to be more about the work You have called Your Church to. Be please also to draw many to Jesus during this time. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyUnpjd3TPU