"God On Social Distancing"

Larry R. Ping II

​

     This current distress during which the world is suffering has introduced several new things. One of which is the idea of “social-distancing.” The technical definition of this is “a set of nonpharmaceutical infection control actions intended to stop or slow down the spread of a contagious disease.” Were you aware this is not a new concept to God, or His Word? Did you realize God, on numerous occasions, commanded “social-distancing?” Consider these passages as verification.

 

     1) “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” (Exo. 23:2). When a person of faith sees evil and the workers thereof, he is to “Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away” (Prov. 4:15).

 

     2) “When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shat not learn to do after the abominations of those nations” (Deut. 18:9). God made His wandering children constantly aware of the dangers of socially joining the heathen nations of the Promised Land. Regarding the practices of those folks God said, “Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them” (Deut. 12:30).

 

     3) “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Prov. 13:20). We ought to surround ourselves with those who are wisdom-filled (Col. 1:9). Encircling ourselves with worldly folks will bring destruction. Consider what happened when “the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose” (Gen. 6:2). “God saw…the wickedness” which resulted and said, “I will destroy man whom I have created” (Gen. 6:5,7). 

 

     4) “Be not deceived; evil communications corrupt good manners” (I Cor. 15:33). Any time the Bible employs the words “Be not deceived,” it indicates some have already been tricked, and men will continue to be so if the warning is not heeded! Solomon “loved many strange women” (I Kings 11:1). He had “seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart” (I Kings 11:3). Neh. 13:26 says with reference to Solomon, “nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.” If the wise man can be deceived in this regard, so can I! God, in calling for His people to “socially-distance” themselves from “unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11) displays His great love and concern.

 

     May we heed the Divine call to keep ourselves from those who cause harm.