I wanted to mediate on this scripture in Jeremiah as we are in deep throws with the pandemic striking the globe. The very word “COVID-19” has the ability to set off thousands of different opinions and emotions on the matter. Earlier, I wrote on a smaller social media outlet and I think the following message is a good reminder for present times.

I am among millions of others around the globe listening to the news and the daily updates about the economic downturn, recession, protests, closed borders, climate change, wars, rumors of wars, the pandemic (Coronavirus) and the list goes on. Some say, it is just media outlets promoting fear and chaos and distorting facts. Some say, this is truth and we need to be awakened. Some are saying, we need to pray so that the world an become a better place. Some are saying, this will blow over. Some are saying, open your eyes and ears because we need to be awakened. I am not afraid to proclaim that I am one of those who states: “it is time to wake up”. This reality of ours, is indeed truth, this is the day and age where humanity is being urged to pay attention.

The books of Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation speaks of these very warnings. This is not about super spiritualism, religiosity or to provoke fear. This is about a present day and age where the signs are tangibly real and the words of the longest standing book in history is prophetically speaking. Still, there is a sense that humanity wants to live in a closed off bubble (isolation) protected by their own ideas and concepts about how we can fix the world. I dare even say, Christians want to live in this conformed bubble - it is not just the untaught or unaware.

Concepts such as: we can become better citizens of the world to propel Faith, Peace and Love as a means to change the trajectory of the world are common motivators. Though, we need to understand that the world will not change as a result of these things. In fact, we need to gain a greater understanding, knowledge and reality that our future will only be further propelled into chaos and disruption; therefore, it is Faith, Peace and Love that are some of the Fruits of the Spirit to encourage fellow man to persevere despite our reality.

For those of us who are wanting to be comforted by encouraging, uplifting sermons and messages that refute or neglect to speak about the books of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation, I would suggest you take the time for yourself to get acquainted with the message of what our days ahead will be like. The grocery store line ups, toilet paper depletion, unstable stock markets and struggling economy is a foreshadowing.

For Pastors and leaders who continue to shy away from preaching the hard truth because it will promote fear in believers ad non-believers, I say: “Wake up O’ sleeper” because you are accountable to preach the Gospel in its entirety, not in accordance to the spiritual climate in North America.