The year is 2020 and the world is at war with an invisible enemy.
An enemy that has spread across the face of our planet, infecting people everywhere and bringing whole nations to their knees. This enemy is stealing from people, killing people and destroying nations and economies.
There seems to be no end in sight and in response even free democratic nations have begun to enforce authoritarian rule. Where healthy and innocent citizens are reluctant to leave their homes, not only because of the threat of this virus but also out of fear of fines and punishment from the powers that be. We walk a thin line.
We need to pray for our leaders and our nations more than ever before. For as C.S. Lewis wrote; “ ‘useful’ and ‘necessity’ was always the tyrant’s plea”.
There are countless and conflicting opinions and theories about what’s going on, not just from laymen. Even medical professionals and governing bodies seem to be at odds, not only about the virus itself but more interestingly about who or what is to blame.
One thing is certain; there is much at stake and much more that stands to be lost on every front. We cannot afford to put our heads in the sand, cross our fingers and simply hope for the best. As Edmund Burke famously wrote; “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”
Who is to blame?
If you thought that this “invisible enemy” that I have been speaking of is COVID-19 you’re missing the point. If you think that the enemy is simply a person or even the “global elite”, you’re still not seeing it.
The apostle John writes; “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John chapter 5, verse 19).
The apostle Paul tells us that the devil is “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,” (Ephesians chapter 2, verse 2).
I think we need to see that the real enemy behind all of this is in fact the devil and wicked spirits who work tirelessly behind the scenes manipulating and trying to gain control over those in power through fear, distraction and through mankind’s lust for gain. COVID-19 and those propagating fear are themselves only puppets on strings. They are the symptoms not the cause. Addressing the symptoms without dealing with the cause never fixed anything.
We need to see and address the real problem; there are demonic forces working behind the scenes to steal, kill and destroy and no natural wisdom, not all the money in the world, no vaccine or human goodwill can deal with that. There’s only one solution, one remedy to the true disease that is currently running amuck on our planet.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians chapter 6, verse 12)
There is only one solution
Christ sent His church out into the world in His authority as ambassadors of the kingdom of heaven to trample demonic powers under our feet and set the captives free; spirit, soul and body.
So the question remains for the body of Christ in this present day; what will we do with that authority? Will we sit back in our homes for the next six months binge watching Netflix or endlessly scrolling social media looking for some sense of satisfaction or escape from it all?
When is the church going to realise that we are in the midst of a war in which the whole world is at stake? Sorry to say it, but simply watching online church isn’t going to change the world.
When are we going to wake up from our slumber and fulfil the great commission? We do this through a life devoted to intimacy with the Lord Jesus, through walking in righteousness and holiness by the power of the Holy Spirit, through aggressive faith in action and the exercise of our spiritual authority through prayer and living a life of selfless love and supernatural power.
It is time that we become all that God has called us to be
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Romans chapter 13 verse 12).
Saints, that time is now. Now is the time to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with the Coronavirus, cast out demons and make disciples. Today is the day of salvation, not tomorrow, not next year. We can’t afford to sit on our haunches and wait until life returns to “normal”. Folks, life might not ever go back to how it was. We may not have another day, but we do have today. So what are we going to do about it?
Josh Wood is an ordained minister and has been teaching and preaching around the world for the last ten years. He lives on the Gold Coast, Australia with his beautiful wife and their two beloved sons. He is also an avid fiction writer working on the first draft of a Christian fantasy novel, having also previously worked in the film and TV industries. You can check out his website woodfamilyministries.com for information about his ministry.