In no way is this blog post undermining the seriousness of our land's current state as it relates to the current pandemic including the coronavirus (COVID-19) - It is my belief that we mustn't ever disregard love and compassion in exchange for making a point. 💚
With that being said, may I share a passage of scripture with you...
1 Kings 8:37-39 states, “When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, WHEN EACH ONE KNOWS THE PLAGUE OF HIS OWN HEART, and spreads out his hands toward this temple: then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men)"
The greatest plague is not famine.
It is not pestilence.
It is not peril or sword.
The greatest plague is the PLAGUE OF OUR OWN HEART.
It is the heart that is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
God knows the condition of man's heart - He is eternally searching it.
"I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." ~Jeremiah 17:10
Oh, how precious it would be in the sight of the Lord if His people called by His name would make 2 Chronicles 7:14 our humble resolve.
"If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." ~2 Chronicles 7:13-14
God desires for us to be aware of and acknowledge the plague of our own heart and turn towards Him in repentance. Then, He will hear, forgive, and act on our behalf.
The greatest pandemic is the condition of mankind not acknowledging and turning from the plague of our own heart.
Oh, how it would touch the heart of God if we would render a Psalm 139:23-24 cry:
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting."
Jehovah's plan is an everlasting one of abundant life and healing.
Let us unite to fast and pray in humility that God may respond to us - His people which are called by His name.