We are still dealing with the impact of the Corona-virus on our society and way of life. It has changed the way in which we live our lives. Businesses are closed, people are out of work, we wear masks when going into grocery stores and businesses that are open. Churches are not meeting together and are doing zoom, live streaming and Facebook Sunday morning messages.
We are told
We are told from the medical community, the governors and mayors of our states to keep distancing from each other to stop the spread of this virus and to flatten the curve. In other words, to stop the infections and deaths involved with this pandemic. However, the actuality of flattening the curve was to keep the hospitals from being overrun with corona-virus patients which has not happened.
A battle in America
It seems there is a battle going on in America, between opening up the economy and staying locked down for public safety reasons. It is a very emotional, frustrating time. Some of the orders coming from the state governors and mayors given seem to be out of line. As an example; a woman in Dallas, Texas opened up her hair salon, she was practicing civil disobedience; she says she has to feed her kids, and was sentenced to seven days in jail. Sent to a jail where there was a corona-virus case. However, over 1000 prisoners were released from jails and prisons in Texas, to keep them from getting the corona-virus; that is definitely an infringement on our constitutional rights. (Thankfully this woman has now been left out of jail.)
The Perspective
As bad as this pandemic seems to be, and each death is terrible from this pandemic and we feel for the loss of those loved ones But all of this needs to be put into perspective.
The WHO
The World Health Organization stated that some 56 million deaths occur per year in the world. That is about 153,400 deaths in the world every day. There are over 2.4 million deaths in the United States each year and about 7,452 deaths every day in this country without any pandemic.
May 9th
I looked up the number of Corona deaths so far and as of Saturday May 9th , 12:10 noon there were 78,327 corona-virus deaths in the United States.
According to statistics corona deaths as of today have totaled 274,290 in the world, and some 78,327 people have died so far in the United States.
Fifty-three days
As of Saturday May 9th we are in 53 days of lockdown or sheltering in place as it is called. As I said earlier, regular deaths in the United States for one day is 7,452. Take 53 days’ times this and it equals 394,956. That is an incredible number of deaths, but that is the average death rate for 53 days in the United States. Remember that appx. 2.4 million people die every year in this country.
Now look at this number, every fifty-three days 394,956 Americans die in this country, and not from the corona virus. While the corona-virus in 53 days has taken the lives of 78,327 American’s, still a tragic number.
Should we Open?
The Corona-virus worldwide has taken the lives of 274,290. That total number for the world is 120,666 less than die annually in 53 days in the United States. This virus is something we need to be cautious of, but taking the chance of completely destroying the infrastructure of this country with massive jobless and food shortages. We need to get back to work, open our business, take precautions and trust the Lord who holds the length of our days in His hands.
Two Million
They originally predicted over two million deaths in this country from the corona-virus and prayerfully that wll never happen These predictions have been wrong almost every time. Who knows I may contract this virus and lose my life and be another statistic, but let’s look into the future.
In 150 years
Every human alive on this earth will not be alive in 150 years. We will all have come face to face with death. However, Christ’s death on the Cross of Calvary and His resurrection from the dead on the third day gives us hope. I Cor. 15:55 gives us security; “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? But this confidence can only be for those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 23:1-6
Psalm 23:1-6 gives believers great comfort; The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
The decision
However, for those who have never given their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, following death, there will be a time of judgment at the Great White Throne, where unbelievers will be cast forever into a lake of fire. If you have never placed your faith in Jesus Christ, please do so now. He offers life and forgiveness of sin to all who call upon Him. Salvation is a free gift, but following death there are no more chances. The decisions made in life cannot be changed once we leave this earth in death. The moment we die we will either have had our first glimpse of the beauty and bliss of heaven or the horror and regret of separation from the Lord.
Erwin W. Lutzer
“In those first moments, you will be more alive than you ever have been. Vivid memories of your friends and your life on planet earth will be mingled with a daunting anticipation of eternity. You will have had you first direct glimpse of Christ or your first encounter with evil as you have never known it. And it will be too late to change your address.
No doubt some surprises await all of us five minutes after we die; but it is much better to be surprised about the indestructible glories of heaven than the indescribable agonies of hell.” Erwin W. Lutzer
We can be wrong
We can be wrong about a lot of things, but we better be sure about where we are going to spend eternity.
An old man stood to his feet in a church meeting and said; “It has taken me fifty-two years to learn three things. Everybody was quiet to learn what these three things were. First, he said, I learned that I cannot save myself.
Second, that God did not expect me to save myself.
He lowered his voice and said; the third thing is, that God through Christ has done it all!
John 3:16; “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”