As I watched the global COVID-19 crisis unfold and evolve, like everyone else, I became anxious, upset, and wondered why it was happening. I listened to what various 5-Fold Ministry Offices said. Some said it was God’s judgement for sin while others said God was trying to get our attention. 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Psalm 91 were being quoted by clergy and laity alike. Rather than jump on those bandwagons, I inquired of God, “what meaneth this, why is this happening”? Matthew 4:17 was deposited in my spirit, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” As the founder and leader of the What Did Jesus Say Movement, I searched and studied the scriptures to see what else Jesus was saying. I studied Matthew 24 and 25. Here Jesus gave parables on end-time events. End-time events are covered in Eschatology, the study of last things. It includes two doctrines–a study of heaven and hell where so much of last times will be spent and a study of prophecy, a detailed chronological sequence of events that will happen in the future.
With COVID-19, we are experiencing Matthew 24:6-8, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Jesus goes on to describe other things that will occur. In verse 30-31, He says. “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other.” The COVID-19 global outbreak is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy of various last day events. It’s not the end but the beginning of end-time events.
The world is experiencing a “selah” moment. Dictionary.com defines this word “as an expression occurring frequently in the Psalms, thought to be a liturgical or musical direction…by the leader to raise the voice or perhaps an indication of a pause.” COVID-19 has caused massive disruptions worldwide. Most people are saying, “we are in our new normal.” From my perspective, this is not a “new normal” but we’re in an abnormal season. Don’t despair because every season is temporary and has a beginning and an end. This too shall pass!
At the end of 2019, many Christian leaders said 2020 is going to be the year of new visions, great change, clarity of vision, acceleration, fulfillment of former prophetic Words, preparation for spiritual battle, etc. With the way things are emerging due to the COVID-19 virus, you may be thinking they got it wrong. I conclude that they got it right.
When the dust settles, then we will have a “new normal” whereby life as we once knew it, will never be the same. That is good news and bad news. The aftermath of 9/11 also gave us a “new normal” as it affected security at airports, corporate headquarters, government buildings, banks, post offices, etc. Operations, too, in a good number of industries changed. Yet with God’s mercy and grace, America managed to adapt, go forward, and thrive.
The impact of COVID-19 will doubtless be greater than 9/11 because it’s an international dilemma. Many people have been infected, recovered, or died with COVID-19. Mental health has become a major issue due to gross uncertainty, social distancing, sorrow, and grief due to loss of life, health, jobs, income, homes, etc. Pervasive racial and economic disparities are exacerbated. Several things in our world will survive while others will vanish. Creativity will marry technology and new products and processes will be birthed. The prophesied 2020 vision will begin to manifest!
In 2019, Rev. Walter Bowers was commissioned by Ebenezer Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC to plant the Ebenezer Baptist Steele Creek Church, where I am now a member. He prayerfully and prophetically proclaimed the “Re” focus for the church’s core values—renew, revive, reset, restore, reveal, rebuild, reconnect, and recommit. His “Re” focus prophecy for the new church campus has become the reality for the entire planet.
In the spirit of Isshacar, it’s time for the world to “Re” focus. It will require us to desire, decide, determine, and depend on God to help us change.
It’s time to “Re” focus every sector of society. It’s time to reform governments, corporations, non-profits, educational institutions and so forth. It’s time to put God back into these entities!
It’s time to “Re” focus the Church, the Body of Christ. Prayerful examination of the Church’s mission, methods, and manner of operations is needed. It’s time to coin a new mantra: “get busy, get busy, get busier because the Kingdom of God is at hand”! This can be the Church’s finest hour as the stage is set for the end-times and Jesus’ return. I trust this crisis will produce a numberless harvest. People often turn to God when tragedy strikes and this one is of global, unprecedented, epic proportions. It’s time for a new vision of the urgency of the Church’s mission, the Great Commission, as found in Matthew 28:19-20. Let’s go! Let’s get the gospel out by every available means—in person, online, next door, in our families, in the marketplace, our neighborhoods, and everywhere we go.
It’s time to”Re” focus our individual lives because we all fall short of the glory of God. Thus, I implore each of us to take the time to do three things to have a “Re” focus. They are: 1) reflect 2) repent and 3) recalibrate. Let’s examine each of these!
First, to reflect means to seriously consider, ponder, or think about something. Prayerfully reflect on these questions. What can I do to prepare for life’s uncertainties? What things have I procrastinated doing that I should now make a priority? Do I need to get my spiritual, financial, and personal houses in order? What changes should I make as a result of this crisis season?
Second, to repent according to dictionary.com means to “remember or regard with self-reproach or contrition…to feel sorry for; regret. As we spend time in reflection, God will show us the things we need to repent to Him for. It may be about our relationship with Him or others, our work ethics, mores, personal habits, and the like. As we humble ourselves and repent, God will forgive and cleanse us, and heal the land!
Third, to recalibrate means to amend, revise, alter, make corrections, improve, redo, or update. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to help us devise a new plan for ourselves and our family in light of our reflections and repentance. Let’s implement it with alacrity! According to my sister in Christ, Von Kinchlon, let’s not develop “crisis amnesia”!
As we “Re” focus by doing these things, we will have a “new vision” for 2020 and beyond!
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