COVID-19: …YOU WILL SEE GOD'S GLORY!

Dearly Beloved, COVID-19: …YOU WILL SEE GOD'S GLORY! “When Jesus heard that, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it’” (John 11:4 NKJV). For almost four months now, COVID-19 has been ravaging the whole world. Millions of people have been infected with the disease. Hundreds of thousands of people have died through it. The economic and social activities of the world have been crippled. In spite of the on-going scientific studies on the cure for the pandemic, there has been no breakthrough in sight. Many religious people have prayed, and are still praying. It seems the gods have closed their eyes and ears to the prayers. Some prophets have prophesied about the end of the epidemic, but such prophecies have refused to be fulfilled. Has the Almighty God abandoned the world to be ravaged by this virus? Will He continue to look as the world helplessly struggles with the deadly pandemic? Will He not act because of His beloved ones in the world? Martha and Mary in John 11 were in a precarious situation. Lazarus, their beloved brother, was sick. They sent words to Jesus Christ that His friend, Lazarus, was sick. As an intimate friend of the family, they wanted Jesus Christ to come and heal their brother. When Jesus Christ heard this news that one of His beloved friends was sick, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (verse 4, NKJV). Surprisingly, Jesus Christ stayed where He was for two more days. By the time He got to where Lazarus was, Lazarus had died and been buried for four days. To the two sisters and other well-wishers, the situation had become helpless. It was like both Martha and Mary were blaming Jesus Christ when He eventually arrived (see verses 21, 32). Jesus Christ, who had known what He would do, reassured them that He is “... the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (verses 25-26 NKJV). He further reminded them that if they “... would believe [they] would see the glory of God” (verse 40). He eventually raised Lazarus from the dead, and He was glorified. The sisters were expecting Him to come and heal their sick brother, He tarried to prove that He cannot only heal the sick, but also raise the dead who had been buried for four days! The whole world is indeed in a precarious situation. Christians and non-Christians have prayed and called on God to intervene and put an end to this ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. It seems the prayers have not been answered. The prayers have been answered! God is staying back for His appointed time to be glorified. He will arise in His own time and stop the epidemic. He will do more than the expectation of the people. You also may be in a particular precarious situation apart from this global crisis. You might have prayed, and it seems that God is not answering your prayers. He will answer your prayers. He is waiting for His appointed time when He will be fully glorified in your situation. If you believe, you will indeed see the glory of God. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will continue to believe in God as you pray for breakthrough over this COVID-19 pandemic till He glorifies Himself on the matter.