COVID-19 Novel Encouragement Sample

Don't Waste Your Coronavirus

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, MAKING THE BEST USE OF THE TIME, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:11-16 (Emphasis added)

I firmly believe in the sovereignty of God, which means I believe that God is DOING SOMETHING in this season. So, the question we must ask is, “are we making the best use of the time or are we wasting our coronavirus experience?”

Here are some ways I have seen God at work:

1. New and Old Dreams

Three years ago, my wife and I had a dream to start an online church to reach English-speakers in 2nd and 3rd tier cities where there was no church. My wife even wrote a paper on it, but as with all things, life happens, and great plans get stuffed into drawers. Thanks to the Coronavirus, that dream has been rekindled! Just this past week, I received an email from a Christian in Chongqing telling me, “I consider BICF my church home since there are no International Fellowships here … today's service meant a lot to me and I was reaffirmed in my calling.” All this, thanks to the Coronavirus.

To waste your Coronavirus is to ignore this opportunity to do something that God has perhaps put on your heart several years ago, but you never had the time to do.

2. Family Time

Beijing is busy, we all know that! With that busyness comes decreased family time. By the time children finish their homework and parents finish their cooking, and cleaning, it seems it is already time for bed. While things have been VERY busy for us in this time, I am a pastor of an international church and my wife is an international school principal, our family has found that our evenings are free to spend together. We have pulled out the cards and the boardgames; we have popped popcorn and sat down together to a movie; we have bought baseball equipment and gone to the park. Thanks to the Coronavirus, we have really been able to "make the best use of" our family time.

To waste your Coronavirus is to ignore this opportunity to be with family, even if it's just the opportunity to call home daily and talk with your parents or siblings who are worried about you.

3. Community

As I mentioned earlier, life is busy. There are a lot of ministries that my wife and I would love to attend, but JUST CAN'T if it takes place during the week. So, we have REALLY enjoyed the opportunity to join some of these ministries via Zoom. As strange as it sounds, thanks to the Coronavirus, we have been able to fellowship with more people, not fewer.

To waste your Coronavirus is to ignore this opportunity for increased fellowship within your church.

4. Sin

I end here because I think to ignore this is the ultimate way to waste your Coronavirus. The Coronavirus has opened my eyes to my own sin. When you squeeze lemons, guess what comes out …lemon juice. Whatever is inside you WILL come out under pressure. Too often we like to attribute our sinful outbursts and actions to our situation, but it can't come out of you unless it is already inside you. Thanks to the Coronavirus, I have the opportunity to take those hidden sins which have surfaced and expose them to the light and allow Christ to shine in the dark corners of my soul.

To waste your Coronavirus is to ignore this opportunity to see which sin is being squeezed out of you.

God IS doing something through this Coronavirus, He is moving in this season, we simply must open our eyes to the opportunities.

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:14-16 (Emphasis added)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me see how You are working in and around me right now, to know what new thing You would like me to START, would old thing You would like me to STOP, or what you want me to CONTINUE doing, only better. Rescue me from my sin, and help me walk in the path of righteousness. Amen

By Pastor TJ Johnson, BICF City Church, Beijing