"Opportunities Provided By COVID-19"

Larry R. Ping II

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     Unless you have been living in a cave for the last few months, you are very aware of the COVID-19 virus making its treacherous trip around the globe. As of this writing, there have been 1,767,609 recorded cases of COVID-19, resulting in 108,178 deaths. While it is certainly true this is a sad and strange time during which to live, it also needs to be identified as a time of opportunity. Have you taken advantage of these opportunities brought to you by COVID-19?

 

     1) Opportunity to Pray More Often. People of God are people of unceasing prayer (I Thess. 5:17). They, by command, are “careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Php. 4:6). People of God, at times, are forgetful, and neglect their communication with God. Be as David, who prayed “Evening, and morning, and at noon” (Psa. 55:17). Recall as the old song suggests, “Don’t Forget to Pray!” 

 

     2) Opportunity to Improve Family Life. Most states have some sort of “stay-at-home” order. With such being true, families are together much more often and longer these days. When life is busy and hectic as normal, family life usually takes a cruel hit. Husbands, are you loving your wives “even as Christ also loved the church” (Eph. 5:25)? Wives, are you submitting to your husband “as unto the Lord” (Eph. 5:22)? Fathers and mothers, are you raising your children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4)? Parents, are you spending this extra allotted time with your children, the “heritage of the Lord” (Psa. 127:3), knowing one day, that time will no longer be? Benjamin Franklin famously said, “Remember, time is money.” May we be using this opportunity to spend time with and work on our families.

 

     3) Opportunity to Appreciate God’s Creation. David declared “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Psa. 19:1). While there is a fair amount of complaining and grumbling occurring these days, perhaps we ought to take some of this “down time” and just be in awe of God and His beautiful creation. Whether it is a “spring rain” (Job 29:23), a “tree planted by the rivers” (Psa. 1:3) or the “fowls…among the branches” (Psa. 104:12), may we truly appreciate the beauty and grandeur of God’s creation.

 

     4) Opportunity to Teach. There is a time when all “ought to be teachers” (Heb. 5:12). This, in God’s plan, is especially true of fathers and mothers (Duet. 6:7-9). Using social media is wonderful, and there are many talented men to preach and teach. However, COVID-19 has provided a grand opportunity for fathers to step up to the plate, and teach their families. What a great example it is for a father and mother to sit down with their family and their Bibles and study God’s Word (II Tim. 2:15)! Have you taken advantage of this opportunity?