For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
It saturates the news media ad nauseam. Of course, I refer to the Wuhan virus, aka coronavirus, aka covid-19 virus. The politically correct object to the association of the new bug with Wuhan China claiming that the term is racist and xenophobic. They protest so loudly that now the Chinese have taken up the outcry refusing to take responsibility for the pandemic.
However, the protest is misplaced since the source of the virus is Wuhan China. When news first broke, it was reported that the virus escaped from a bioresearch lab in Wuhan. Due to the mishap, “the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology released a new directive titled: ‘Instructions on strengthening biosecurity management in microbiology labs that handle advanced viruses like the novel coronavirus.’”[1] Since then, the media have quashed the story choosing rather to go with Chinese propaganda that the virus originated in Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan.[2] Supposedly, this coronavirus resides in the digestive tract of certain bats sold in the market, and it probably contaminated the meat through improper cleaning. At least, that’s the story.
The Wuhan lab is the only lab in China that handles “advanced viruses like the novel coronavirus.”[3] “Novel” suggests something new, something never seen before. You can read the New York Post article already noted (below) and draw your own conclusions, but I have my own suspicions. That lab serves no other purpose than to develop biological weapons for the Chinese military. To confirm my suspicion, following the escape of the virus, “the People’s Liberation Army’s top expert in biological warfare, a Maj. Gen. Chen Wei, was dispatched to Wuhan at the end of January to help with the effort to contain the outbreak.”[4] The Chinese genetically modified this virus to do what it does, and it got away from them. That explains why they refused help from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Face it, the Chinese have no regard for human life. Their only interest is world dominance. The Chinese are not the only ones that have such goals. All Godless countries harbor the same desires. The Wuhan virus is just one of those “secret weapons” that got away from them.
Surely the reader has heard much about Covid-19. There is a lot of speculation about it because it is novel and our researchers are working day and night to get a handle on it. What is insidious about this virus is that a person can be infected with the Wuhan bug and not show any symptoms for up to 14 days. In the meantime, the carrier can infect others unknowingly. For this reason, the virus can spread rapidly as evidenced by the rapid spread of the pandemic around the world. While currently, the Wuhan bug is less prevalent than the flu, it is almost four times as deadly, especially for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
The panic caused by the Wuhan virus has resulted in some irrational actions taken by many here in the United States. President Trump wisely shut down travel to and from areas with widespread infections. He has been criticized by those on the left for this action. On the other hand, those on the left, like the leaders of Dallas County, have taken extreme measures by imposing a limit on large gatherings to fewer than 500 attendees. This in effect shuts down churches with congregations of over 500 from holding worship services. To be fair, the edict affects any large gatherings such as sporting events and concerts. People everywhere are cleaning out grocery store shelves by buying out toilet paper, disinfectant supplies, medicines, etc. as if preparing for Armageddon!
The fact is that one is relatively safe as long as one has not traveled to infected areas abroad or come in contact with someone who has. Otherwise, the same measures taken to prevent the flu are sufficient to prevent this disease.
Christians, of all people, should be the ones with “sound minds” and not react out of fear. That this pandemic has spread around the world so rapidly should not come as a surprise to us either. Jesus told us that such things would come in the last days just prior to His return. Jesus said, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Matthew 24:7, emphasis mine). By the way, have you heard about the biblical swarms of locusts that have devastated crops in the Middle East and Africa and are moving toward Europe? This can lead to famines. And the Coronavirus qualifies as “pestilences.” And according to Jesus, there’s more to come. He said, “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8, emphasis mine).
In Matthew 24, the “signs” of the last days that Jesus gave referred to the “great tribulation,”[5] i.e., the seven years prior to His return. We are not yet living in those times, but the fact that we see these things happening now should alert us to the proximity of that event.
The Christian who has placed his life in Jesus’ hands should be ready at any moment to hear the Savior say, “Come up here!”[6] To be ready means to actively tell others about salvation through Jesus Christ while time remains. At any moment, Jesus can call us home either by the Rapture or by the Wuhan virus. Either way, we have a great reward waiting for us. But, what about your friend or a loved one? Are they ready? If not, what are you doing about it?
Reader, if you don’t know Jesus, the Wuhan virus is the least of your worries. Why not give your heart to Jesus right now. Read my page on “Securing Eternal Life.”
Notes:
[1] “Don’t buy China’s story: The coronavirus may have leaked from a lab,” New York Post, February 22, 2020 — https://nypost.com/2020/02/22/dont-buy-chinas-story-the-coronavirus-may-have-leaked-from-a-lab/
[2] “2019–20 coronavirus pandemic” — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_coronavirus_pandemic
[3] New York Post, February 22, 2020.
[4] Ibid.