Day 94: "Coronavirus, Where is Thy Sting?"

DAY 94

Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic

A series of daily reflections for people of faith

by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland

WEEK FOURTEEN: TUESDAY 16 JUNE 2020

"Coronavirus, Where is Thy Sting?"

“Why we must not be seized by fear … We have to accept the hard truth that people die. They die of many things, COVID-19 among them … People will also keep dying every day of heart disease and cancer, from strokes and in automobile accidents. Each of us is going to die one day, at a time and in a manner that is not of our own choosing … Pay attention, fellow believers: Christ has conquered death and summons us, by his grace, to become free of the fear of death through which the devil keeps us in bondage.” - An article by the same name in a Christian newspaper

Placing death from COVID-19, the coronavirus, in this larger context of death from whatever cause can help us to gain a much-needed measure of perspective as the entire population of the world lives under its pandemic shadow. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me …” runs the familiar confession in its classical language. Even in our increasingly secularizing culture, Psalm 23 remains the conveyor of comforting concepts even for the unbeliever, with its pull of promises of things unattainable anywhere else but in God.

And lest we view the reference to our being held captive by the devil through a fear of death as a bit too much for our perceived enlightened minds, consider this description of the ministry of Jesus through His Incarnation: “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15. As you reflect on the deaths of others you’ve known, how do these experiences give you insight into death? Experiencing the deaths of others helps prepare us for our own.

Reflective question: Do you fear death? Talk to Jesus about it – He’s been there.

Reflective Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 – “’Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”   

Reflective hymn:

“Christ Arose’ – Robert Lowry (1826-1899)

Death cannot keep his prey – Jesus, my Savior!

He tore the bars way – Jesus, my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes.

He arose a victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!