But those who do not believe in God, those who mock the Bible the way the atheists do, and those whose belief in God is nothing but lip service and is never manifested in deeds, are all destined to perish and to be destroyed.

As it is written in 2 Peter 2:12 (KJV),


We just pray to God that before it is too late — before destruction comes to ungodly people — that faith in God and in the Lord Jesus Christ would spring in their hearts at the soonest possible time so that they will be saved.

As this plague continues to infest the world today, we are not certain if we will still be alive tomorrow or in the days to come. We are not sure if we will already be among the hundreds of thousands whose lives have been taken by this illness. We know that each of us is appointed to die, and it is just a question of who is going to die first.

King David had full knowledge that all men are bound to die and that our lives are in the hands of God. That was why when he learned that his newborn son by another woman had been decreed to die, he fasted and prayed to God for his son’s life.

But when God’s decree came to pass, when the infant’s death finally came, he ended his fasting and went into the house of the Lord and worshipped Him — a gesture of his submission to the will of God. He knew that he could not bring his child back to life again; he also knew that when the appointed time comes, he, too, would die.

2 Samuel 12:23 (KJV) says,


The people of God know that one day, they will die; it is a decree unto all men.

As it is written in Hebrews 9:27 (KJV),


All men are appointed to die. But we should not pray, nor wish, for the death of our fellowmen even if they happen to be the most bitter of our enemies. We are admonished to pray for the betterment of our enemies — not for their deaths or misfortune. But we cannot help that there are really people whose joy is in destroying the reputation of others and in spreading fake news about them on social media. I, myself, am a victim of such kind of people. They malign my person — they even posted that I was seriously ill and dying on social media.

I am wondering if these people don’t have any better things to do. Instead of preoccupying themselves with nonsensical things like fabricating and spreading fake news, why don’t they try doing something that will benefit our fellowmen — especially now when millions of people are suffering and are in dire need of help?

I am also appealing to some media personalities, politicians, and leaders of government. Instead of faultfinding and mudslinging, why don’t you join hands and work together for the common good? This is not the time to be critical and antagonistic of each other; this is also not the time to think about political ambitions or other personal agendas. This is the time to be united, not only in fighting our battle against this pandemic but also in extending a helping hand to those who have been adversely affected by the lockdowns and community quarantines imposed by the government.

Because of the lockdowns, many people today endure hunger; many rely only on the relief goods being given to them for their daily subsistence. There are senior citizens who need maintenance medications but cannot purchase them. There are babies and infants who need formula milk and diapers but are unable to have any because their parents lack money. And there are also some who already suffer from depression because they are unable to cope with the problems and difficulties that they are experiencing.

This is why instead of wasting time, effort, and financial resources in political propaganda, in criticizing a political foe, or in spreading fake news on social media, it is better that we use our time in alleviating the hardship of these distressed and poverty-stricken citizens. A little help can make a lot of difference to them.

The government needs everybody’s help and cooperation in addressing this contagion and in looking after the welfare of the people. Although the government is exhausting all possible means of providing citizens with their basic necessities, the government can only do so much. The government’s resources are limited, in fact, it is already depleting, The government therefore needs the help of the private sector — most especially the help of the religious sector.

It’s high time that the leaders of different religious organizations, these individuals who claim to be Christians, prove to their members that they truly care for them and that they are not only after their monetary contributions. Religious organizations whose leaders and ministers live in pomp and affluence should provide, at least, the basic needs of their respective members. And since they do not pay taxes to the government, the least that they can do is to take care of the needs of their poor members, whether these needs be material or financial in nature.

One thing that I am truly proud of about our religious organization, the Church of God International, is that though we may be poor and lowly in the eyes of others, we see to it that none of our brethren in faith will starve, beg for food, or die unattended. Our fellow Church workers have been instructed to check on the welfare of our poor brothers and sisters in their respective places of assignment, and provide them with their essential needs like food and medicines.

My point is, in our own little way, we can ease the burden of our underprivileged fellowmen and we can be partners of the government in its relief operations.

Even as ordinary citizens, we can contribute in preventing the spread of this new coronavirus by being responsive and compliant to the directives of government officials and health experts. If they tell us to stay home and to not gallivant, then let us stay home. If they decide to further extend the quarantine period, let us not oppose it. It is for our own good.

Actually, the idea of quarantine or self-isolation has a biblical basis.

Leviticus 13:46 (KJV) says,


To prevent the plague from spreading, the Israelites were commanded to “dwell alone.”

In another book, they were instructed to go inside their chambers and be in isolation until the plague has passed.

Isaiah 26:20 (KJV) says,


We can say that the measures being imposed by the government and health authorities today are not really new; they are as old as the Old Testament.

In 2 Chronicles 26:21 (KJV) it says,


Until the day of his death, King Uzziah lived in isolation because he had leprosy. He distanced himself from the rest of the people so that he would not infect them.

Considering that Covid-19 is more fatal and more easily transmitted than leprosy, then all the more that this generation should practice self-quarantine or self-isolation. Let us strictly observe the health protocols that the people in authority have recommended. Staying at home is the best way of not getting infected. But should you manifest certain symptoms, consult health professionals immediately, even through different platforms of communication which are already being utilized now. UNTV, for instance, has a 24/7 digital clinic wherein you can consult doctors about your health concerns without needing to go out of your home.

Indeed, the imposition of lockdowns and quarantines have their setbacks, especially to ordinary employees and daily wage earners. But it’s just a matter of making the right choices. It is much better that you stay home and experience hunger once in a while, at least, you are safe and are still alive. Do not complain about getting bored at home. Why will you get bored when you are with your loved ones? Make the most of the community quarantine period by bonding with your family. It doesn’t matter if your pockets are empty now; your life is worth more than a pocket-full of money. If you insist on going out and trying to earn a living, you are risking your safety and also the safety of the other members of your family. For all you know, the money that you’ll be earning will just be spent for your hospitalization should you catch this deadly virus. And when you get infected, there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to recover, so why take chances when you can be safe by staying at home?

But aside from taking all the necessary precautionary measures, our most potent weapon is our prayers to the Almighty God. In every opportunity that is given us — morning, noon, afternoon, evening — let us pray for God’s mercy. Remember, God’s mercy and compassion are unfailing for those who fear and believe in Him; they are new every new morning.

So, each morning that we wake up, let us not fail to give thanks to God for giving us another opportunity to receive His mercy. It is because of His mercy that we are still alive until now.

Thanks be to God!