Written by: Asst. Ps Patrick Chan Yin and Ernest Tan
Illustrated by: Phoebe Chan
28 MARCH 2020
You must be wondering why we suddenly suspended all our services and gatherings in church over the next three weeks. Well, this is mainly because of the spike of Covid-19 cases in Singapore, especially from abroad. Our church leadership had to make the sad and difficult decision to temporarily stop our services and the gathering of our people for fear of spreading the virus around.
Yes, you read correctly, the leaders are fearful and I am sure that you must be fearful too because of these uncertain times :((( But don’t feel too hung up about that! It’s ok to feel that way. It’s important we don’t take any unnecessary risks with a virus like Covid-19 (we don’t even know how long a cure will take to arrive/whether a cure will even be found tbh).
The fears of falling ill and of death are normal, more so during these uncertain times. Fear reminds us that we as human beings are not in control of our own lives and the world around us. That our lives are fragile and fleeting. But that’s exactly why we need someone beyond ourselves to give us security and hope in this life. This someone is none other than God. The Bible tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God and we are to praise Him (check out Psalm 139 - especially v. 14).
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First, we should continue to take care of ourselves by practising good personal hygiene and observing social distancing (>1mt apart). Before we act, we should also consider the impact of our actions on those around us, especially the seniors and the weaker ones in our midst, who are more susceptible to this virus.
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Third, we can learn to depend on Him and pray for ourselves and others, especially for those who are suffering because of the virus. Think about workers in F&B, healthcare and other frontline industries. They need our prayers! During this time, we encourage you to think about how we can help those around us that are in need. Maybe you have Malaysian cleaners in your schools? Would you consider inviting them for a meal? Or how about praying together with a friend whose loved ones may be separated from them because of the quarantine?
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Second, other than checking out Covid memes or checking out Phua Chu Kang’s latest viral (haha) hit, we should be spending more time with God and getting to know Him by reading and meditating on His Word.
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Fourth, we can reach out to friends who may wonder why such a situation is happening as they try to make sense of it. It is true that humans are, to some extent, responsible for our current predicament. But we as believers believe that nothing happens by accident. We should not be surprised that such events can point people to God. In Luke 21:11, Jesus’ disciples asked him what were signs of the end-times.
“Jesus replied, “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven,”. He then explained, “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.””
These things are to take place and will point to the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. So let us remind one another that none of these events are new, but that God is the one in control of our lives. All these troubles show that the end-times are nearer than ever. But because God is in control, He will come back again for those who repent from their sinful ways and believe in Him.
Lastly, let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb. 10:25). It may not necessarily be through physical meetings (please check with your parents for permission before meeting each other outside of school, and per latest government guidelines, no more than groups of 10!), but I urge you to use other platforms for meeting instead: Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Insta, Tiktok, Snapchat, MSN, AOL, FB, Myspace, Twitter, write love letter etc.
Even though we can’t meet physically as Teenacity, let’s unite and journey alongside each other as we look forward to the coming of Jesus! And when that time finally arrives.
“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
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