I am trusting God to care for me in this COVID-19 pandemic: that’s why I have been double-jabbed with a vaccine God has made possible for keeping me and our community healthier and safer.
I saw a man the other day boldly waving a sign saying that if we trust God we don’t need a vaccine and we won’t catch COVID. That’s not just sad, it’s stupid. He looked to me as if he is well fed: eating food is a good idea if you want to be healthy, whether or not you trust God! He obviously eats well: that doesn’t mean he’s not trusting God for his health. On the contrary, the person who trusts God for his body takes care of his body as part of his serving Christ in faith! (1 Timothy 4:8 & 1 Corinthians 10:21)
Because I am trusting God for my health, I am thankful for the scientists who are fulfilling the mandate of Genesis 1 to rule this creation that God sustains by his powerful word, making evidence- based science and reliable medical care available in place of medieval and modern myths, superstition and rumour.
Because I am trusting God for my health, I’m rejoicing in the certainty that creation declares God’s glory even to a world filled with unbelievers, sceptics, and the fearful. Because God rules, I do not fear pestilence, powers, politicians, or demonic conspiracies; but I do fear God. In fact, pestilence, disease and death all declare the glory of God who brought temporal judgement and brings eternal judgement into creation in promised expression of his abhorrence to sin. It began at the fall (Genesis 3:17-19); it continues today (Isaiah 45:7); and it ends at … the end! (2 Peter 3:10)
Christ died and is risen: victor over decay, disease and death. Christ died and is risen: giving all who believe in him that same victory over death, decay and disease. I will not indulge in the vain pursuit of “safety” in a terminal creation for which the promised present struggles and troubles are but a foretaste of judgment to come. Nor will I treat with disdain the providences of God who causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous, providing us with all good things to enjoy. (James 1:17)
That’s why I have taken the vaccine with thankfulness (Ephesians 5:20), why I have taken lots of vaccines during my life, and why I will continue to take whatever medicines God allows me to access.
But they and life itself are passing: I will enjoy them but not pursue them or treasure them. (Matthew 6:19-21) But I do pursue Christ (Philippians 3:7-14), for the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
So fearing God, and giving thanks for everything, I take in faith whatever prudent choices he offers to care for myself and others; knowing that I am to love my neighbours ahead of myself, caring for them and doing them good; knowing that the only safety that is certain is to be found in Christ and realised in eternity; knowing that Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.