Our Hope Is In God
Daniel Arkin wrote an article in the Feb. 21, 2021 NBC news website entitled, “U.S. reaches 500,000 deaths from the coronavirus.” As an African American senior citizen, these horrendous death tolls have a special meaning. Every week we hear of more and more of our friends, neighbors and family members that are sick and dying from COVID-19. It has become a special plague when even our leaders, our talented artists, and our hard-working front-line workers are losing their lives.
As another indicator of the impact of this dread outbreak, Lenny Bernstein wrote an article in the February 18, 2021 Washington Post entitled, “Pandemic cut U.S. life expectancy by a year during the first half of 2020.” He stated that this was “a staggering decline that reflects the toll of the covid-19 pandemic as well as a rise in deaths from drug overdoses, heart attacks and diseases that accompanied the outbreak, according to government data released Thursday.” The article went on to indicate, “Black and Latino Americans were hit harder than Whites, reflecting the racial disparities of the pandemic, according to the new analysis. Black Americans lost 2.7 years of life expectancy, and Latinos lost 1.9. White life expectancy fell 0.8 years.” Everyone is under attack by this vicious enemy.
We have some of the best medical researchers in the world working furiously on vaccines to protect against this pandemic, but the Bible tells us that our hope must be in God (Psalm 39:7). In the book of Psalms, the author states that the Lord will direct our steps (Psalm 37:23). In the 23rd Psalms, the writer states that even when we go through dark valleys, God will be with us and will never leave us (Psalm 23:4, Hebrews 13:5b).
It is painful for those who have lost loved ones. We grieve their loss. However, our hope is in God who said that He knows all about our tears (Psalm 56:8). He promised that one day He will wipe away all of them along with death, mourning, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). In the meantime, let us keep our hands in God’s hands and build our hope on the eternal God.
Psalm 39:7
New International Version
7 "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you
Psalm 37:23
New Living Translation
23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives
Psalm 23:4
New International Version
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Hebrews 13:5b
New International Version
5b …. be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you;
Psalm 56:8
New International Version
8 Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll—are they not in your record?
Revelation 21:4
New International Version
4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
No comments:
Post a Comment