Here is a new Corona virus
produced phobia that has larger implications to the local economy and
society as a whole. I've been informed by my wife that we are to
not have ANY food prepared outside of our house ... no dine in, out pick up
& no delivery out of a paralyzing fear that the one who prepares the food, the cook or the
delivery person has the Corona virus and transmitted it to the food or
packaging. That means that I cannot partake either as I might transmit the disease to her if I become infected by it. My daughter-in-law now has the same restriction, so my guess is that
many have ceased supporting the "dine out" industry and could financially collapse many
restaurants and their workers. And who knows how long after this Flu season is over, that people
won't trust them since they've gotten used to no going out? What is safe? Sound irrational? The fear of this virus has crashed the Stock Market. Grocery Outlets and Drug Stores are sold out of stock. The Airline & Cruise Ship industry are at a near stand-still and may experience the same issue after the epidemic has ended because with all
this phobic fear, who will come back and keep them in the air or afloat!
This consumer-driven society
depends upon people buying things. Taking their hard-earned dollars and
purchasing goods & services that keeps the economy going. When people lose
their ability to earn an income or when people spend only on bare necessities,
the system goes sideways quickly. There has been talk about the potential
20-30% loss that churches across America will potentially take in giving
because of this epidemic and the fear caused by it. How will the house of God
be impacted in their ability to minister to others? This drives fear of
struggle, disability and survival.
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light
and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom
shall I be afraid?”
Sure, we need to be safe and take precautions. But the fear, actual and
imagined, in the mind, must be addressed. And addressed again because the media
is fueling the fears, isolation and chatter is spreading the panic,
routine life has crumbled and dreams are now nightmares. This bug gets to
a relatively small percentage of the population (due to get spread-prevention
efforts) but the fear of this bug and its peripheral affect on everyone is
infecting the entire population psychologically in a negative way. Bad news
is the only news they hear and it’s getting into people’s heads. It's gone beyond a healthy fear and respect.
Psalm 16:2 O my
soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, My
goodness is nothing apart from You.”
The psychological warfare is
as great or greater than the germ warfare going on here. Hearts are losing
hope, minds are losing stability, souls are shaken with the constant doom
and gloom with little light. It's almost insanity. It should and is
bringing people to their knees in various degrees. They need a Savior from this
phobia. Who or what will they turn to?
Deuteronomy 20:3-4 “Today
you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint,
do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for
the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight
for you against your enemies, to save you.”
Secular society offers
distractions of self-medicating drugs and alcohol to take the edge off.
Pornography and casual sex would take their minds off the terror out
there. Running up and maxing out the credit cards with frivolous on-line
purchases would make folks feel better for the moment. But these are fleeing
and damaging, don't address the issue and never satisfy the soul. I pray that
the unchurched and the churches both realize that their Maker is their
Savior. This fallen world offers as many fears as it does temporal pleasures.
But only Jesus Christ provides permanent solutions to their fears and is the
true answer to life stability in both certain and uncertain times. Turn to the Prince of Peace.
In Christ, Brian
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