A pestilence is defined as “a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating” (Merriam-Webster). The Oxford Dictionary lists the following words as synonyms of pestilence: plague, bubonic plague, the Black Death, disease, contagious disease, contagion, infection, sickness, epidemic, and PANDEMIC.
During tumultuous and troubling times, the Lord draws our attention to particular messages from His Word that are perfectly applicable to the challenges and afflictions we face. One such message appears in Psalm 91, portions of which are excerpted here for emphasis:
The Lord will most certainly deliver thee …from the deadly pestilence, and you will not be afraid …of the pestilence that stalks in the darkness… [v. 3, 6].
When the prospect of death is heard in every discussion, every bulletin, and every new report, men are reminded that death stalks them—deepening the darkness of fear and panic. Times such as these strip men of their false confidences and their flimsy foundations.
In contrast to the despair of men, the Word of God brings light and a message of hope. Jesus Christ conquered death, and those who believe in Him for eternal life are delivered from it. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, Death is swallowed up in victory. We can, therefore, answer the question, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:55) with the words Jesus proclaimed while dying upon the tree, IT IS FINISHED (John 19:30). For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection (Romans 6:5). We are thus empowered to be fearless in facing death because we have the promise of our resurrection to life.
During such a time as this, we have a great opportunity to give the message of the gospel of grace that brings hope to the despairing and confidence to the downcast. The Lord has made us able ministers of the New Testament (2 Corinthians 3:6), a testament of righteousness by grace through faith—a testament to which we can personally testify.
It is our divine mandate to engage with the faithless and fearful. We are to proclaim Christ, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom (Colossians 1:28). Remember, God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech (2 Corinthians 3:12). In other words, tell it like it is.
The battle is in the mind.
Where fear sets men to flight, the faithful enter the fight.
Harper sends