COVID-19 Series: #5—Share the world’s only good news

19 Pastoral Thoughts On COVID-19

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9:2).

I hear that in only 3 months we are about to hit a staggering 1 million coronavirus cases around the world and that the virus has been reported in almost every country. This is truly bad news. Indeed, every form of media is relentlessly spreading this miserable news—print media, electronic media, social media, and so on.

This can only have a depressing effect on people. It reminds me of the people described by Isaiah as dwelling in a land of deep darkness. The darkness represented a sense of gloom and foreboding. That is how so many people feel today. You cannot miss the sense of fear because this level of global calamity has never occurred before in our generation.

Isaiah said that the people who were walking in darkness had seen a great light. It must have cheered them. What is that light? He later gives the answer: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Yes, Jesus Christ is ultimately the only good news for this world in every circumstance. In him we experience joy, peace and hope that defies death and hell.

Christian, are you using all channels at your disposal to shed abroad this cheering light? Joyfully share this good news with those around you who are living in fear as COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in this world!

“Sing above the battle’s strife,

Jesus saves, Jesus saves;

By His death and endless life,

Jesus saves, Jesus saves;

Sing it softly through the gloom,

When the heart for mercy craves,

Sing in triumph o’er the tomb,

Jesus saves, Jesus saves.”

—Priscilla Jane Owens (1829–1907)