PHOTO: Semmel Concerts
THIS WEEK: Viruses
So You Want Evidence of The Unseen World?
The Coronavirus, computer viruses and spiritual viruses all have the good-versus-evil scenario in common. With COVID-19, the jury is still out on all of the specifics. But we know one thing, it is hard to capture and put back in a bottle. It has brought individuals and nations to their knees. And it does not want to go away. There are many well-meaning philosophies and theologies that dismiss evil; that believe that somehow everyone will be saved and that Judas and Hitler will walk the streets of gold. Coming face to face with this invisible and insidious virus may finally wake up those who either deliberately dismiss or don’t want to look wickedness in the eye. The latter may land there because they don’t want examine themselves in a mirror. They are the, “I’m basically a good person” crowd who deflect the idea of conversion. In scripture, Sheol (translated “hell”) is mentioned 31 times and “evil” gets 592 mentions and Satan receives about a couple of dozen references. (If you are still unconvinced that evil is a deliberate choice with effects and want to get into a debate about the word “Sheol,” “Hades” and the “Hell,” just read Revelation and the matter will be settled.) When we see the suffering caused by an invisible enemy, think of the devil, the Adamic nature and the world’s system that have combined to produce more man-made “viruses” (wars, ghettos, totalitarian regimes, corruption, etc.) than all the micro-illnesses that all the laboratories in the world have ever seen. PORTAL TO HEAVEN: COVID-19 is a portal into the unseen world of wickedness and we’d do well to see it in such light.* For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places… And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Ephesians 6:12 NLT, Ephesians 2:13 KJV *God has used plagues. Without a definitive word from Him, we may presume that He has allowed the current one and can even use it. But this editor has no evidence that this is a specific judgment.