Lessons Learned From A Virus

by Micky Galloway

During these perilous times of the COVID-19 pandemic we are introduced to terms that were not that familiar a few months ago. “Social distancing,” is defined as “a set of non-pharmaceutical interventions or measures taken to prevent the spread of a contagious disease by maintaining a physical distance between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other” (Wikipedia). It may be disappointing to hear that sports events, festivals, vacations, and other gatherings are cancelled because of a risk to public health. These cancellations we are told, help stop or slow down the spread of disease.

There is a spiritual application to this principle. We are social creatures. Have you ever noticed how being around friends who do what is right, who are honest, and who respect others, causes you to want to do what is right, be honest, and respect others? On the other hand, what might friends who act wrong cause us to do? The apostle Paul wrote, “For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself” (Romans 14:7). People around us have an effect on us, and we have an effect on them. Moses warned the Israelites, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” (Exodus 23:2).

The apostle warned the Corinthians about the danger of evil companionships. “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (I Corinthians 15:33). This is found in a lengthy discussion of the resurrection of the dead. In the previous context, Paul had asked, “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?” He then explains the logical consequences of such reasoning. “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” (I Corinthians 15:12-19). Perhaps the most important consequence here is, “if there is no resurrection of the dead … ye are yet in your sins.” It is in this context Paul says, “If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (I Corinthians 15:32). And why not? If there is no resurrection, there is no accountability; do as you please. If there is no accountability, I do not need to be concerned about sin. Yet Paul continues, “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (I Corinthians 15:33). I must be concerned for my soul and the influence others have on me.

Israel did not listen. God said, do not intermarry or make covenants with the idolatrous nations of the land. “For he will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and he will destroy thee quickly” (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Instead, they asked for a king, “to judge us like all the nations” (I Samuel 8:5). When Samuel explained to them what that would mean, they said, “Nay: but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles” (I Samuel 8:19-20). Israel served the gods of the land and were ultimately taken away into captivity.

The kings did not listen. God said concerning their kings, “Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses; forasmuch as Jehovah hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold” (Deuteronomy 17:16-17). David took several wives. “And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David” (II Samuel 5:13). David’s wives included, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, Abigail the Carmelite, Maachah the daughter of King Talmai of Geshur, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, and Bath-shua (Bathsheba, wife number 7) the wife of Uriah the Hittite, daughter of Ammiel (I Chronicles 3:1-9). David suffered tremendously the rest of his life for his sins (cf. II Samuel 12:10-13). Solomon did not listen. Oh, what could have been (cf. I Kings 9:2-9)! Yet, “King Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites; of the nations concerning which Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods” (I Kings 11:1-4). Consequently, the kingdom would be taken away from him and divided (I Kings 11:11-13). None of the northern kings were faithful to God and many of the southern kings also served idols. They led the kingdom of Israel into idolatry and ultimately into captivity because they lived like the nations.

Paul said to the church in Corinth, “Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (II Corinthians 6:17-7:1). Peter said to the elect of the dispersion, “Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ … But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for (God’s) own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God” (I Peter 2:5, 9-10). Christians must realize who they are and the corrupting influence of those around us.

We cannot go out of the world (cf. I Corinthians 5:9-10). However, we can choose our closest associations from among those who will help us go to heaven. Perhaps the principle of “Evil companionships corrupt good morals,” if not learned from the precept itself, if not learned from history; can be learned from the infectious nature of the Corona virus. I pray we will be as careful about our spiritual lives as we are about our physical lives.