Society is always full of mountains. Every generation has to grapple with several mountains that may be different depending on the time period you live in. I’m not talking about the mountains of influence (that’s a topic for another day). I’m talking about mountains that keep us from seeing the light of day, reaching our destination, and achieving our destiny.
The world today is faced with mountains that are seemingly insurmountable.
Cold War Era
I was not around when kids had to be trained to hide under tables and families had to build bunkers in their basements stocked with food supplies incase of a nuclear weapons attack. The Cold War era created its own challenges and those of us who came of age during that time cannot fully appreciate the magnitude of the situation. It is no wonder the younger generation peddles the Socialism so casually and those who lived through this era loathe the mention of it. The Berlin wall fell in 1989 and practically ended that era.
Islamic Terrorism Era
I was around in 2001 when the terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and The Pentagon. It ushered us into an era of full blown war against militant Islamic terrorism. That attack changed a lot of the way we live life. Even though there had been many other minor ones before it, this one was catastrophic and defined the way a whole generation will interpret life. Almost 20 years later, we seem to have come to terms with how to deal with that element of terror. We seem to have gotten used to a little more time at airports, a little extra scrutiny, and sometimes a lot more tighter security than normal. We understand and we appreciate the safety it provides us with. Those who were not around before this know no different.
A New Kind of Attack
In the wake of the CoronaVirus, we’re now faced with a whole new reality. The reality of a biological weapons attack is very real and very near. It is one of those things we used to see in the movies and now life is imitating art. The problem with this one is that it could potentially be a faceless, nationless, invisible enemy. It is the dark side of a globalized economy and freedom of movement. An airborne attack can potentially spread without detection and cause mass destruction before we ever realize where it came from.
We’re facing a very different reality. Our methods, vigilance, and awareness has to shift. Our governments and the officials who serve in them must begin to employ new ways of combating the potential these types of attacks. It is better to be safe in our preparation than to be sorry in the aftermath of a disaster. The terms ‘shelter in place’ and ‘lockdown’ are what this generation will be familiar with the most. They have faced deranged active shooter incidents and now this threat of airborne attacks.
Faith NOT Fear
How have the people of God endured all these eras and these types of attacks? They have fasted, prayed, preached, read the Word, and converted millions to the ways of God. It is the only way. Jesus told His disciples (who we are as well) “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Since He has overcome the world, we too shall overcome, if we keep our trust in Him.
We cannot retreat out of fear (even though we must be wise – quarantine yourself, wash hands, avoid large gatherings, etc). I’m happy to see that churches across the globe have adjusted to the changes and moved to online meetings. We’re not shut down, we’re adapting in order to endure. I’m also happy to see that we’ve quickly adapted a no nonesense attitude towards this scourge and worked to protect our health and the lives of our people. Yes, we go to Heaven if we die, but we don’t want to go before our work on earth is done. The seasons of life are changing fast and so must we. Let the church be at the forefront and let the secular leaders follow as we hear the voice of the Lord and direct the course of history out of the Word of the Lord.
I believe it is what the saints that lived during the Cold War did. Men and women of God preached against Communism, prayed against it, rejected its advancement, and advised leaders on how to stay the course and win the battle. I have also seen it happen over the last 20 years, albeit to a lesser degree. I want to see it continue to happen more strongly. Let the church rise and Lord help us to be the church in every area of society. “Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more” – Rom. 5:20
Seemingly insurmountable mountains have moved before and so will this one.
Same devil, different weapon. We still know how the battle ends for the battle belongs to the Lord.
Nelson Masinde 