What are the believers and saints of God to do as America enters the Covid-19 pandemic?
Before I answer this question, let me first answer the question of what we shouldn't do? We should not panic as believers in Christ.
This pandemic and the ones to come in the future were prophesied by Christ as part of the great upheavals in the world as the times move towards his return. He mentioned wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and pestilence( disease on a pandemic level) in diverse places. These events he noted in Matthew 24th chapter as only the beginning of sorrows; but the end is not yet. They are just a part of the prophecies leading up to the end of days or his second coming.
These events and various health crisis are expected by the believers according to the prophecy recorded in the scriptures. Therefore, the believer should not be trouble or panic by current events. Because he has been informed of them by God already. It is not a surprise to him. His faith is actually strengthen by what he is witnessing- he is seeing prophecy being fulfilled before his eyes, which only reaffirms his faith in the word of God (Luke 21:28-31).
Now, what should he do in the midst of this current pandemic-for he too must go through it with the rest of the world? The changes occurring in America, Britain, Spain, Brazil, Chile, Canada etc.-mandatory quarantine, social distancing, lay-offs on all non-essential workers, supermarket shortages, and so on, all affect him as well. In this situation, he must use the wisdom and prudence of God to navigate the unique circumstance he faces. The Bible states that a wise man will see danger and remove himself from it(Prov.14:15,16). Christ also warned us to remove ourselves from danger in his prophecy about the end of days with the advent of the Abomination of Desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. He said remove yourself from the epicenter of destruction and find a safe haven (Matt. 24:15-18). This is wisdom in action.
We can use the kind of wisdom found in the Bible with Covid-19, by practicing good habits that will protect us from preventable exposure. Personal hygiene is a first line of defense against this virus. Good hand washing practices is one method that helps to prevent the spread of the virus- use soap, water and wash for 20 seconds. You should bathe and wash your clothe that you've worked in at the end of your work day or after being in susceptible areas. These,also, were some common cleanliness practice recorded among the Hebrews. They washed their hands routinely before eating, took baths and washed their clothes after handling the dead bodies of unclean animals,or burying the dead, returning from battle, and treating sick people with diseases that made the victim ceremonially unclean. They also practice self-isolation, which is one method used in the preventing the spread of Covid-19. If they became unclean or had the potential of making others unclean, they would avoid contact with their families and the general congregation or community to avoid making them unclean or spreading a disease.
Another important step we should take is improving our immune system through improvement of our diets and sleep habits. A diet rich in whole foods, such as fruits, vegetable, clean water, whole grains, beans, seeds and nut ( chia seeds, Almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, flax seed, natural peanut butter), eggs, yogurt, Kefir, green tea, apple cider vinegar, key herbs like garlic, onions, and turmeric helps boost our immune system or natural defense against diseases. Your protein intake is also important for boosting your immune system and helping your body heal itself. Aim for 20-30 gram of protein per meal. You can achieve this by eating 3-4 ounces of meat, chicken, or fish, 2-3 whole eggs, 1 cup of Greek yogurt ( choose whole milk base for the healthy fat content), 1 cup of beans with 8 ounce soy milk or 1 cup of grass fed cow milk ( a good website to visit for more health tips on eating for boosting your immune system and wellness is www.draxe.com). Eliminate sweets and candy from your diet. These foods act as immuno-suppressants when consumed routinely, due to the effect of refine sugar on the body. Also, avoid cakes, donuts, pies, ice creams, cookies, sugary drinks and coffees, as these all effect you negatively and provide none of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants you derive form wholefoods that protect you from diseases like the Covid-19.
Finally, as part of your plan to avoid danger and protect yourself, get plenty of sleep. Sleep is essential for restoring and rebuilding the bodies cells, organ systems, and hormone levels. It aids in handling stress better, and it improves our ability to critically think and process information better- all these benefits are needed, especially in times of distress and crisis. Adults should aim for 8-9 hours of sleep each night and children should get between 10-12 hours. To develop good sleep hygiene, start by going to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning, reduce the amount of screen time you expose yourself to before bed-this affect the your melatonin hormone levels, which help promote sleep. By applying these health practices in this current crisis we are practicing the wisdom found in the Bible that instruct us to consider well what is before us and to discern the danger presented and find ways to avoid it.
In addition, brethren, we should never for get two very important facet of our faith: prayer and the holy Scriptures. We should always pray, as Paul said, without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). We should pray when we rise in the morning, at noon day, in the evening, and at night. Our prayers are like sweet incense before God, who hears us and answers of our prayers. And we must never forget the treasure we hold in our hands every time we take our Bible in hand to read. It is a light that shines in a dark place, say the scriptures. We would be wise to follow it on the path that leads to day of Christ ( 2 Peter 1:19). It was written so that we may have hope by the patience and comfort it provides each time we read it(Rom.15:4). In the scriptures we find where He has said, "And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:20). Therefore, we have confidence that no matter what pestilence or wars or rumors of war may come in accordance to the prophecy, we know that Christ is always with us even to the end of this world.
Shalam,
Zarach
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