A few months ago I was of the opinion that the COVID-19 pandemic was going to subside come summer, but today I am thinking differently.

We are half way through July and the COVID culture is ramping up its influence upon our lives. The media is obsessed with reporting cases, exploiting stories of its spread, and contradicting medical professionals who dare to tear apart the narrative of the political opportunists.

There is a growing sense of fear for a want of safety that can be seen in our everyday activities. If you doubt this try going out in public without wearing a face mask, because you’ll get the glares and shamming comments by fearful people seeking a guarantee of safety.

I know you may not want to hear this, but I am starting to think this game is going into an overtime that will lead up to the end of the age.

Luke 21:26-28 seems to suggest this because it states that fearfulness among humanity is what sets the stage for the return of the Lord Jesus…

“Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

I am starting to think that the facts about the science don’t matter anymore because this pandemic crises has been hijacked as an oppressive political tool to beat down the public with fear for a want of safety, and that is why I don’t see any end in sight — except when Jesus returns.

Yesterday I opened an email that had a picture of a prominent mega church pastor from Atlanta and above him was the words “We can’t guarantee your safety.” My initial thought was he must have told his congregation an obvious fact and the article that follows must be about our only safety is in Christ and so forth with an encouraging gospel message.

However, when I read the remainder of the email it said “We can’t guarantee your safety, therefore we are canceling all church events until 2021.”

I was surprised. I was left wondering when the church was responsible for guaranteeing safety? I remember as a small child coming to terms with the realization that this life on earth offers no guarantee of safety, so when did I miss the reinstatement of a guarantee of safety?

Our only hope for a guarantee of safety is in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and that is coming very soon, according to Luke 21:26-28.

When Jesus said, “when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” He said that the most effective way to keep your “hearts failing them for fear” is to find your only safety in His soon return!

There is nothing wrong with taking precautions against a virus. It is completely human to worry, to be concerned, and to fear the unknown. However, don’t feed that fear and nurture it, instead keep your eyes up, if you want to go that way.

Keep your eyes up looking for the promise of your Lord. If you keep your eyes down or looking around you will be strengthening the cords of fear like a noose around your neck.

Live by the promise of Isaiah 26:3 which says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

Over at my blog I’ve been spending some time answering some questions about Revelation 13 and the Mark of the Beast, and in one of those posts I explained why I don’t think a COVID vaccine can be the mark. However, it has occurred to me that the fear for want of safety may be the motivator for one to follow the Beast — a want for a guarantee of safety.

After all, 1 Thessalonians 5:3 tells us that our Lord will return “when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

The point is not whether you wear a mask or those around you don’t, but please make the decision today to give your fear to Christ and find your safety in the return of the Savior.