Greetings Friends everywhere! Today the whole world is held in a grip of fear by the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. This is not the first pandemic to grip the world, there have been various pandemics in the past. See chart below:
Physical virus which brings on sickness and death has a spiritual counterpart. The spiritual virus is called, sin. Just as the current Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) originate from a non-human source reportedly in China, so did the spiritual virus of sin. It started with the devil who has no affinity with humanity but is an evil spirit who seeks to destroy mankind. (1 Pet.5:8) However, God allows certain events to linger within His sovereign will. And we pray He will open our eyes to His will – both individually and collectively. God’s purpose in humanity will prevail. One of God’s purpose for creating humanity is that we become “helpers” of one another. Jesus, God’s very Son and the second Adam, came and showed humanity the way. The first Adam had taken mankind astray by following Satan in Eden. How can humanity defeat this crafty and evil unseen enemy who infect us with sin with the equally unseen Coronavirus? (Gen.3:1-7, 11, 23-24; 1 Cor.15:45; Rom.5:18-19) Humanity was created in God’s image and Love-likeness. (Gen.1:26-27; 1 John 4:8) Anything, whether it is physical or spiritual, which seeks to destroy humanity finds its source in the enemy of humanity, the devil. Both the physical and spiritual viruses are related. The physical cannot be divorced from the spiritual.
The cure for the spiritual virus of sin is God’s Love. The divine Love is the vaccines that cures humanity. God’s Love is expressed in humanity through God’s Son whom He surrendered to become our Savior. (John 3:16-17) Jesus walked this earth and cured every form of sickness and disease to show God’s Love for humanity. All diseases begin with sin, or can be traced back to sin. The Bible states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23). That’s to say, humanity is infected with the spiritual virus (sin) without exception. But we have been cured when God surrendered His Son, who is the spiritual vaccine for the spiritual virus. Humans are cured by placing their faith in the cure God has provided in His Son. The Bible says this about Jesus, “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and He healed them” (Matt.4:23-24; Act.10:38; Isa.53:4-5).
The cure for the physical Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) is the vaccine that is yet to be discovered. God’s miraculous Love move humans to find the antidote to defeat this virus. Its discovery will be an act of Love by those who are called to make the invention as they are inspired by God through His Spirit (Love). (Rom.5:5) Today, on an individual person to person basis, we are called upon to Love our fellow humans through measures we take to help contain this virus.
Experts say that unlike previous pandemics the contagious nature of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) has not only spread widely and rapidly but has upended every aspect of people’s lives in ways large and small. So much so, that the term “social distancing” has become a byword in the effort to limit the spread of the virus. The term means: children are no longer attending school; people are working from home where possible; others are no longer able to work where businesses has been severely affected, like the travel and associated industry; social and public gathering is limited or discouraged altogether, this includes closure of bars and restaurants, including sports stadiums and entertainment events. Travel by planes and other public forms of transportation has more or less ceased altogether through travel bans. In drastic situations, “lock-downs” (confinement) of towns and cities have become a necessary inconvenience for millions. The economic impact is immense, so much so that a recession seems inevitable.
God’s nature is Love, and thereby “social distancing” indirectly maligns and is an affront to His communal trinitarian Love-nature. (1 John 4:8; 1 Cor.13) Thereby, we pray for God’s intervention in this dire and urgent life and death situation. Author Jon Tal Murphree gives us in succinct and profound description on how the divine nature of Triune God in the three Persons exists in the divine pattern of the Triune Life, “Each Person of the Trinity transposes Himself into the others without confusing His own personality with the Others…the Father, Son, and Spirit do not exist as persons alongside each other as much as they exist in and through each other.” (Pg.29, “The Trinity and Human Personality”). So, God is not about “social distancing” and isolation, but is about union, oneness, interdependence and relationships. Humans were created to become one inseparable humanity, like God is three Persons but indivisibly One God. (Mar.12:29; Deut.6:4)
Notwithstanding the negative effect of social distancing, we can do things so we are not isolated from each by any means. We can stay connected through constant communication by phone, through Skype and Facebook, and other means. We must pray the evil curse of this Coronavirus will be stopped at its tracks so we may live as people created in God’s image and Love-likeness. (Gen.1:26-27; 1 Tim.6:19) Living in harmony with the divine will has always been the Creator’s intention for every human. It is about how we use our freedoms which He freely confers upon humanity. God created mankind to be “helpers” of one another. I encourage you to read about the “helper mandate” God gave humanity at the time of human creation, at: http://bulamanriver.net/8208
This current pandemic calls upon humanity to make an inner examination of itself as to whether it has the wherewithal to combat this insidious menace of a virus pandemic. We must not look inward but outward to help our fellow-humans beat this deadly weapon of this unseen enemy. Only God’s Love will help us overcome this pandemic. If the current pandemic is a metaphor for spiritual pandemic, then only God our Maker can save us. And He did save humanity by sending His Son to die for us, thus, saving humanity from the spiritual pandemic. But not only spiritually, but also physically in our bodies. God created humanity to be His temple and He will save us. Paul said, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God (Love) lives in you?” ( 1 Cor.3:16). When Jesus walked this earth, He healed people (human body) of all kinds of sickness and disease. (Act.10:38; Matt.4:23-24)
Here is the Love-promise from God regarding pestilences like the virus, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely, He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday” (Psa.91:1-6). Let us ceaselessly pray for God’s intervention and salvation.
Deliverance, both physical and spiritual, come to mankind through Jesus, who took our humanity in Himself and joined it to the divine — “Immanuel/God with us” — Isa.7:14; Matt.1:22-23. The Bible reveals how He delivered us, “Surely He (Jesus) took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed” (Isa.53:4-5). Yes, it was the act of Love where Jesus gave Himself up to be our Savior is what cured both the spiritual and physical virus. The same will be repeated today when we won’t allow fear but Love to influence and control our lives. Fear and sin (virus) are synonymous.
We must pay attention to the guidance given by the local authorities and each do our part. (Rom.13:1) Love is about realizing our dependence upon each other for the common and greater good. On the other hand, we can still have negative relationships with others where sin (virus) through selfishness and egotism moves our thoughts and actions, instead of Love. Paul’s prayer reveals the human destiny to conform to the image of His Son, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in Love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the Love of Christ, and to know this Love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Love)” (Eph.3:17-19; 1 John 4:8). You may read my post titled, “Living God’s Love Day-By-Day” at: http://bulamanriver.net/16467.
Petition: Friends, as I have closed my post in the past, I customarily give our readers the opportunity of calling upon them to give their lives to our Maker. I thank you for investing your precious time with me in the sharing of the good news of Jesus. Jesus is alive today as our High Priest in heaven at His Father’s side ceaselessly mediating for us. I hope that in your heart of heart you will receive Him as your personal Savior, receive God’s Spirit, and be part of living this glorious life for humanity. You can privately and quietly pray this prayer in your heart. I am asking you to pray this prayer as a human being Christ died for, not into any religious sect or denomination, but into the glorious humanity that Christ is preparing as the temple for God’s dwelling:
“Almighty God, Father of all humanity, forgive me of all my sins for I receive Your Son, Jesus, as my personal Savior. In Your incalculable grace, grant Your promised celestial life in Your Son through Your Holy Spirit, and open my eyes to the wondrous gifts you have conferred upon me and all humanity. May Your Love guide and protect me and my loved ones always, and bring us all into Your beloved and divine Kingdom. I praise and thank You, Amen.”
Welcome to the celestial life of Love in God’s eternal Family. (1 Tim.6:19) Then keep in touch with God’s Word for you by visiting this blog and website and look at various subjects that may be relevant for your situation. Or you can email me with your questions at the address shown below.
Blessing: Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessings of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love,* be with you always. May the Spirit enliven your spirit and make all things concerning you possible as you live the Triune Love. Be strong in the Lord’s joy.
Farewell for now,
Kiang P. Lee (Your Servant In Christ)
*Triune Life: “Triune Life” speaks of the process of theosis or deification of humanity. What is theosis or deification? “It refers to apotheosis, meaning “making divine.” Theosis or deification is a transformative process whose aim is likeness to or union with God (as taught by the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Church).” (Wikipedia.org) The belief in the process of ‘deification’ is understood in accordance with Jesus’ teaching, when He said, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’? If He called them ‘gods,’ to whom the Word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside (cannot be broken)” (John 10:34-35; Psa.82:6). (You can read about the Triune Life at: http://bulamanriver.net/9199, and other posts)
I have written about this subject of ‘deification’ in my blogs under the theme substitution and attribution (see, http://bulamanriver.net/564), where I showed how Jesus came as God incarnate (Immanuel) to take the place of sinful humanity to save mankind from sin and death. (Matt.1:23; Rom.3:10-12, 18, 23; John 3:16) Further, we read, “As a process of transformation, theosis is brought about by the effects of catharsis (purification of mind and body) and theoria (‘illumination’ with the ‘vision’ of God). According to Eastern Christian teaching, theosis is very much the purpose of human life. It is considered achievable only through a synergy (or cooperation) between human activity and God’s uncreated energies.” (Wikipedia.org)
So, the “Triune Life” reveals the intersection of human activity and the uncreated energy emanating from the Tri-Personal Being of God of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is a way of life which explains that process whereby humans are transformed in body, mind, and spirit by the Love of God. God’s uncreated energy is His Love. So, the foundational tenet of the “Triune Life” is based upon the Love of God, for “God is Love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Thereby, it can also be called aptly, the “Triune Love.”
I had coined the term “Triune Love” and “Triune Life,” to refer to a person who lives the three-dimensional life within the Tri-Personal Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We see God’s Tri-Personal Love move in an inward, outward, and upward trajectory, in this process of theosis which I have called the three ascents. The three ascents dovetails into one another showing how all three Persons of the Godhead are in the relationship of Love with humanity – where God reveals the fullness of Himself to humanity, both individually and collectively. (2 Cor.13:14; 1 Pet.1:1-2) That’s to say, the act of one is the act of all three, and the act of three is the act of one, making them unified in Love. (Mar.12:29; Deut.6:4)
Man’s union with the Triune God, or “Triune Living/Loving,” is made possible by Jesus, who Himself, is one in substance and reality with the Triune Godhead. (John 1:1-2) He took our humanity into the very Being of the Triune Godhead by cleansing it of all sin and rebellion. To live the “Triune Love (Life)” is the miraculous expression of the Spirit (Love) in humans. (Rom.5:5) The miraculous life is the promise of the New Covenant, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances, and do them” (Ezek.36:27).
Every aspect of human living follows this three-step format revealing the three-dimensional aspect of how the Tri-Personal Being of God in the Father, Son, and Spirit, directly and collectively involved in the life of human believers, individually and collectively to bring humanity to salvation. These three steps move in an ascending order, so I will call them ‘ascents.’ Each ‘ascent’ dovetails into the next and finally reveals the ‘manifestation’ of the topic, which we will call the fourth step, in this case, Love!
Hence, all my articles are framed within this three-step format, or ascents. The subject of the article dovetails into each ascent and spontaneously lead to the manifestation of the divine Love and reveals how humanity is enlightened by God, and cleansed in mind, body, and spirit. The ascents reveal three doors one must enter to attain the manifestation of God’s Love relationship with humanity. The ascents are not to be misconstrued as some ‘secret knowledge’ or mystical activity. Rather, each ascent represents the relationship of Love a human enjoys with the Triune God in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, throughout a person’s life. In fact, the ascents are actually three Love relationships the believer encounters with the Tri-Personal God. This three-way relationship is what I have called by the term, “Triune Life” or “Triune Love.” These ascents represent the movement of God’s Love in an inward, outward, and upward, trajectory to bring God’s enlightenment in a person. The fourth step reveals how the article is made to manifest in the life the person, both individually and then collectively in humanity.
Man’s union with the Triune God, or “Triune Living/Loving,” is made possible by Jesus, who Himself, is one in substance and reality with the Triune Godhead. (John 1:1-2) He took our humanity into the very Being of the Triune Godhead by cleansing it of all sin and rebellion. To live the “Triune Love (Life)” is the miraculous expression of the Spirit (Love) in humans. (Rom.5:5) The miraculous life is the promise of the New Covenant, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances, and do them” (Ezek.36:27) The three-dimensional Triune Life/Love is opposed to living the one-dimensional solitary life of the fallen humanity inherited from Satan through Adam’s rebellion. For additional information about the Triune Life: http://bulamanriver.net/?p=8036. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/9092.
**Bulamanriver: To read the different facets of the life of the Bulamanriver, you may obtain a copy of my book, “Bula” Man-River, from Amazon.com; xulonpress.com, barnesandnoble.com, and other online book stores. All proceeds will go towards furthering the work of Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.
Mission Statement: Read the Triune Love Mission, Vision, and Value statements at: http://bulamanriver.net/8664
All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.
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