My seven-year-old grandson anxiously looked at the sky. School had abruptly closed, and he had heard the adults discussing the “Corona Pandemic”. He was sure there was an impending storm about to descend like a blizzard or violent thunderstorm.

“When are the piranhas coming, Mom?” he asked his mother as he searched the horizon for the impending storm.

“What do you mean?”

“You know, the piranhas. When will the piranha storm come? They closed school for it.”

“Oh, no!” she exclaimed. “No, Honey. It’s Corona – not piranha. It’s a virus that makes people sick, not fish that will eat you!” She hugged him and laughed and wanted to cry all at the same time. “Now I see why you were so afraid to go to sleep last night.”

We have all heard stories and seen movies that give us our basis for a preconceived idea of past and future events. We’ve attended Sunday School and heard the Bible stories, and depending on what our teacher told us, and pictures our teacher showed us, we believe it happened or will happen that way.

When my 7-year-old grandson heard “Corona Pandemic” he imagined a black stormy cloud with deadly piranhas swirling from the sky like the movie, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”.  What else could be so serious that they would close schools and cancel Great-Grandma’s birthday party?

Remember pictures of Noah and the Ark when you were a child? How many animals are marching into that ark? Two by two. What would you say if I told you the Bible says that God told Noah to take on the Ark two of every kind of animal, and seven pairs of the clean animals and flying creatures?

When did the wise men come to see Jesus, and how many were there? There is nothing in the Bible that says there were three. That idea came from a song. Or how about the idea that they worshipped him at the stable? That makes a great Nativity scene, but it’s not exactly the way the Bible describes it.

Jesus was born to be the Savior of the world. Why did the religious people of His day miss it? They were looking for a savior to be born. Could it be that He came in a way that they hadn’t imagined? Maybe it wasn’t like their “Sabbathday School” teacher taught them. And what about His years of ministry when signs and wonders followed Him everywhere? Prophecies of old were fulfilled. How did the Pharisees and Sadducees not recognize this was the Promised One?

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” Prov 25:2

We are experiencing an event right now that we couldn’t have predicted in the natural. We are experiencing a worldwide pandemic. It has caused many discussions, and most of us have asked the question at least once, “what does the Bible say? Is this the beginning of the end?”

The prophecies for Jesus’ birth were a mystery. The religious leaders who studied the scriptures missed it. It is likely events in the future will not match our preconceived notions either. Theologians who have dedicated their lives to studying Eschatology can’t seem to agree on the events that are to come.  But when Jesus returns, it will all make sense.

Jesus will return. Until then, God calls us to complete surrender to His Lordship. It doesn’t matter if He comes back tonight or a thousand years from now. Nothing changes.  He is calling us to Kingdom living – King Jesus and His dominion, heaven on earth. He calls us to unwavering devotion and obedience. He wants our praise and He longs to spend time with us. He wants us to be world changers. He is ready to move in America and across the globe, He just needs your prayers to release Heaven on earth. He is looking for a people who will believe Him. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to the Father.” John 14:12. He is calling us to be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in His resurrection power, as witnesses, ambassadors of Heaven. He is preparing His bride.

During the past few weeks, many of us have been challenged in relationships, finances, personal faith, and our worlds have been turned upside-down. It’s hard being told to stay home. It doesn’t feel like we are suffering like Christians in countries who risk their lives for their faith in Jesus, but it’s an annoyance. There will be small businesses and individuals who won’t be able to recover. Most people wonder what is really going on. It’s certainly is “uncertain times.”

There’s never been a better time than this to press in, worship, prayerfully read your Bible, ask God to give you a fresh perspective, pray, and be ready to share the reason you have peace and joy.

People are seeking answers. Even unbelievers see this “global pandemic” as an event of “Biblical proportion”, and in their minds, they consider the possibility that maybe God really is the only hope. The church buildings are closed. It’s time for us to rise up and be the church.

There has never been a time like this. “The fields are white unto harvest.”

James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds.

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to endure many trials. . . “

Philippians 3:10 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;”

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”