GOD IS BIGGER THAN EBOLA!

That is the message in Daniel. Daniel is cast into a den of lions. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are cast into a fiery furnace (Dan 3:16-18). The New Testament teaches God can do great things. “With God nothing will be impossible” (Lk 1:37). “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt 19:26). Eph 3:20-21.

GOD WILL NOT ALLOW DEATH TO HARM HIS PEOPLE

A lot of people have died doing the right thing. Abel. “They conspired against him [Zechariah, the prophet, the son of Jehoiada], and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the L ORD ” (2 Chron 24:21). Jesus. James was beheaded, Stephen was stoned, and Antipas was Jesus’ “faithful witness” (Rev 2:13). Physical death is not the end of the story. Jn 11: “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (Phil 1:23, ESV).

We have no reason to have anxiety in the face of death. Jesus came to “release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb 2:15). “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matt 10:28). We must remember that death cannot harm us. Death is not good (1 Cor 15:26). Getting to the point of death can be frightening.

GOD BLESSES HIS PEOPLE IN DEATH

God never intended for people to die (Gen 1-3). God takes care of His people when they die. “Precious in the sight of the L ORD Is the death of His saints” (Ps 116:15). The rich man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31). The beggar “was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom” (Lk 16:22). God cares for us when we die. I’ll never die alone. Lazarus was comforted. “‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them’” (Rev 14:13).

GOD ALLOWS DEATH BECAUSE OF SIN

Sin has brought every evil thing into this world. Gen 3: “Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Rom 5:12). All men are susceptible to death because of sin. Why do bad things happen to good people? “In all of human history, only one time has something bad happened to a good person. And, He volunteered for it.”

GOD’S SON SUFFERED FOR US

Is 53:3-12. “To this [suffering for your faith] you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Pet 2:21).

GOD IS BIGGER THAN EBOLA! THEREFORE, WHAT CAN WE DO?

We pray. Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25-30). Paul seems to indicate prayer was given for Epaphroditus. Paul apparently couldn’t heal Epaphroditus. That likely says something about the purpose of miracles. “The L ORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed” (Ps 41:3). “O L ORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me” (Ps 30:2). We must never forget the power of prayer!

We show compassion. Those who struggle with illness need compassion & love. Jesus taught us to show compassion for the sick. That was how He lived (Mk 1:29-34). That’s how He taught us to live (Matt 25:34-40).

We seize teachable moments. Deut 6:7. We can teach much to friends & neighbors.

ARE YOU PREPARED TO STAND IN GOD’S PRESENCE?