Fight the good fight of faith
by Ivan Ho 26 May 2020
When coronavirus broke out in Wuhan in November last year, the suppression of news and delay of lockdown of Wuhan city until 24 Jan allowed 5 million of Wuhan residents to travel here there and everywhere, with the travel hotspots in Asia and Europe being impacted the hardest.
Maybe due to the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, not many Chinese like to come here to visit but it didn’t stop HKers from visiting China with thousands going to Wuhan. In a way, the protests have helped HK avoid massive outbreak of coronavirus in the city. However, there is recent upsurge of infected cases due to HKers returning from Europe and some from China. So far, thank God, our death rate remains very low. Last week, the 4th patient who contracted the virus in Wuhan died. I believe God’s protection is upon our city.
Europe, however, is not so fortunate, with Italy and Spain having the highest death rates. Now the entire nation of India is in lockdown as well which suggests that the situation over there are also quite serious. In a short space of time, from one infected person in one location, coronavirus has spread to almost every nation in the world. Not only is the virus killing multitudes of people in different parts of the world, the outbreak of coronavirus reminds us that we are living in perilous times and man must turn their trust away from the political economic systems and turn to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
The call for every nation is to turn from our wicked ways and return to Christ!
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Deceptions in the last days
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Matthew 24:4-14
Jesus spends more time warning us against spiritual deceptions and false prophets in the last days than physical pestilences.
Deceptions come from man, not things, operating from the spirit of deception. Take heed that no MAN (or woman) deceive you.
For MANY will come in my name, and will deceive many. These false religious leaders who deceive many aren’t Hindus, Buddhists…. but people who come in the name of Jesus. Our enemies are found within our own camp who bring lies and destructions amongst God’s people. Jesus warns that false apostles and prophets will draw away many who allow themselves to be deceived.
Jesus has warned us about all kinds of turmoils leading to the last days, but note what He said: “…. for all these THINGS must come to pass but the end is not yet“. Coronavirus is a thing that will come to pass, it will be gone and no more. Fear not!
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
II Timothy 1:7
Fix your eyes upon Jesus
At all times, we need to fix our eyes upon Jesus not on humans who can change from one minute to another. In the last days, man will betray one another because their hearts are full of seeds of deceptions. One day they may follow God but in the next moment they may follow something else. God’s word is the only constant element that changes not whatever the circumstances. God does not have mood swings, unlike man who are double minded .
In the last days more and more men and women will abandon the faith and turn to follow seducing spirits because their hearts are not set properly. God hates mixture of spirits . His word is like a double-edged sword which will divide between soul and spirit. When He speaks the true nature and condition in a man or a woman’s heart will be laid bare.
Fight the good fight of faith
When you are in a fight, your enemy can sense the fear in your eyes. Do not underestimate your enemy whose main weapon is intimidation and even the best fighters like Bruce Lee would respect his opponents. Do not underestimate your enemy but do not fear him either for the devil has already been defeated by Jesus. If you are not secure in Christ and if you don’t put on the full armor of God, you will be beaten up badly. Many church goers live in cycles of defeats because they are insecure and their hearts and minds are easily swayed by the schemes of the enemy. In the last days, the greatest enemy you face is yourself.
Fight the good fight of FAITH !
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.