COVID 19: IS THE DEVIL WINNING AGAINST THE CHURCH?
Ima Nkanta
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, aside from crumbling the economies of the world, the church has been the butt of nearly all criticisms, most of them very virulent and strident, clearly showing how much the world hates the church and the kingdom way of life. The church has been called out as fake, dubious and pretentious. The characterization of the church in most derogatory language, especially our frontline Ministers across the globe, particularly in Nigeria, has been sports for the devil. He has enjoyed lots of fun, seeing the church doors slammed and the congregations running in circles as sheep without shepherds.
Most demeaning has been the characterization of the hallowed place of worship as the harbinger of corruption and death, deserving nothing than being shutdown; while markets with all their uncontrollable populations can open and do business as usual.
Sometimes I weep listening to radio commentators, some of them Christians, hauling vituperative blowhards against the church. They say markets are essential, church is non essential and can go behind the corridor of the dark alleys. Sad! It took the courageous leaders like Donald Trump to describe the church as essential in the fight against coronavirus. But his lone voice was immediately attacked by the media and health institutions.
Yet the so called acclaimed health experts who are hailed by the media are still left confused with struggles to find acceptable vaccine for the cure of the virus. No one has dared to give the church a little room to pray for the nations of the world.
The worst thing to happen to the world is not to let church meet and pray together and this is where the devil is having the fun. He seems to be enjoying the show and thinks it’s not going end. But he’s a liar! He’s not winning! The church has always won and will win this coronavirus battle and God will have the glory.
When Jesus was arrested, beaten and hung on the old rugged Calvary cross, it was sport for the devil. He set up parties in hell for humbling and nailing to death his most cruel tormentor since eternity past. But the devil’s parties were cut short when Christ walked up to hell and snatched the keys of death and hell from him; liberating those bound in chains and fetters for eternal doom. The devil lost big time and since then he has been on the path of defeat.
Let no one weep anymore for the church because victory has always been on her side. For now, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; ” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.
