“There Is No New Thing Under The Sun”

by Micky Galloway

“That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us” (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10).

It has been over a year now. The COVID-19 crisis has distressed us all. So many have expressed their frustrations. We are now required by law to wear masks. “Social distancing” is an expression all too familiar. Online everything is now the norm and those of us who are not computer savvy are exasperated as we are forced to learn new communication skills that must be incorporated with our work skills. We’ve canceled schools, closed businesses, shut down theaters, postponed/cancelled concerts, sporting events. All are impacted and some face financial ruin.

The good news is, “this too shall pass” and plans are being considered to “reopen.” My concern is what will life be like after COVID-19? Will we serve God more or less? This plague began on a small scale and escalated into a pandemic, so likewise it will pass slowly. What plans are we making for the future? Benjamin Franklin the famous writer, philosopher, scientist, politician, patriot, Founding Father, inventor, and publisher is credited with the saying: “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” Taking the time to plan, increases the possibility of success.

We are not the first generation to endure masses dying as a result of disease. We are not the first to have to make plans for what comes next. The Bible clearly describes numerous occasions when God brought plagues and diseases on His people and on His enemies.

In the ancient world, God used plagues on Egypt to force Pharaoh to free the Israelites from bondage, while sparing His people from being affected by them (Exodus 9:14-17; cf. Exodus 12:13; 15:26). This declares God’s sovereign control over diseases and other afflictions. God also warned His people of the rewards of obedience and the consequences of disobedience, including plagues (Read: Leviticus 26). In Numbers 16:41-50, God sent a plague and destroyed 14,700 of His people for murmuring. In Numbers 25:1-9 He destroyed 24,000 people for idolatry and fornication. God commanded the people to obey the law of Moses or suffer many evils, including what sounds like disease: “Jehovah will smite thee with consumption (wasting disease, ESV), and with fever, and with inflammation, and with fiery heat, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish” (Deuteronomy 28:22). These are just a few examples of many plagues and diseases God caused. Admittedly, I do not understand all I know about the providence of God. “Man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). However, God has frequently used such calamities to discipline His people and judge the nations (READ: II Chronicles 7:13-14; Ecclesiastes 8:17; 9:11-12; Job 1-2; Amos 4:6-13; Hebrews 12:4-11).

In more recent history, the disease known as the Black Death spread across Europe in the years 1346-1353, killing an estimated 60 million; the smallpox outbreak of 1520 killed 5 - 8 million people; the yellow fever outbreak over the course of spring and summer of 1878 killed an estimated 13,000 - 20,000. The “Third Plague” of 1855 ultimately led to more than 12 million deaths in India and China, with about 10 million in India alone. The notorious Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-1919 killed millions. Older estimates say it killed 40 - 50 million people while current estimates say 50 - 100 million people worldwide were killed. In the United States alone, about 28% of the population suffered, and 500,000 to 675,000 died.

Solomon said, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider” (Ecclesiastes 7:14). Consider what? During such uncertain times when so many died so quickly, perhaps we would do well to consider these immutable SPIRITUAL things as we consider plans for after the pandemic.

Life Is Brief.

• James 4:14, “What is your life? for ye are as a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
• Job 14:1-2, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble, he cometh forth like a flower and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.”
• Psalms 90:10, “The days of our years are three score and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years (70 or 80 years, mg) : yet is their pride but labor and sorrow, for it is soon gone, and we fly away”
• Psalms 90:12, “Teach us to number our days that we may get us a heart of wisdom.”

Death Is Certain.

• Ecclesiastes 9:5, “For the living know they shall die.”
• Hebrews 9:27, “It is appointed unto men once to die.”

There Is a Resurrection.

• I Corinthians 15:12-19, “Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.”
• Job 14:14, “If a man die, shall he live (again)? All the days of my warfare would I wait, Till my release should come.”
• Job 19:25-26, “But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth: And after my skin, (even) this (body), is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God”
• John 5:28-29, “Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.”

There Is an Appointed Time for Judgment.

• Acts 17:31, “Inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”
• Romans 14:12, “So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

There is Purpose to Life.

• Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard; Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole (duty) of man. For God will bring every work into judgment with every hidden thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.”

Have we forgotten that the purpose of life is to plan to die? Those in Smyrna were clearly told, “Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). The reality of suffering caused Paul to be perplexed. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if to live in the flesh, – (if) this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not. But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better: yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake” (Philippians 1:21-24).

Perhaps with proper consideration of these spiritual realities, we will be diligent about planning for when the COVID-19 pandemic is past. Let us plan to work because we trust that God works (cf. Philippians 2:12-13). Above all, we trust in God’s promises that this body, this creation, and this life, are not all there is!