The COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc around the world, causing thousands of lives lost. A minority number of countries achieved good results in containing the virus. Of these, some experienced a second and a third waves of attack after months of remission. Some countries saw drastic deterioration since the pandemic, with no end to when it will hit rock bottom. The lack of a persistent vigilance to the virus is one of the factors that led to the pandemic spiralling out of control. In the beginning, everyone knows little about the virus and the harm that it would cause. Furthermore, no one wanted to be seen as over-reacting. This led to a decrease in vigilance towards the virus, and thus, missing the golden period of containing it. When the pandemic started to spread, vigilance increased in the community. Everyone reduced outdoor activities, avoided congregating, wore masks when going out, maintained safe-distancing, and hand washed diligently. Everyone did their part in fighting the virus. This reduced the spread significantly. Sadly, when the situation started to look optimistic, complacency set it. It provided an opportunity for the virus to make a comeback, which increased its rate of spread and death toll. What exactly is the factor that that made sustained vigilance so hard? All preventive measures during the pandemic had either hindered or caused great inconvenience in our daily lives. When life gives even a little hint of going back to normal, everyone was just too eager to return to the good old days. This attitude of always taking the easy way out had caused us to put down our guard against the virus. Another factor that contributed to letting our guard down was not taking the virus seriously because most of the cases had only mild or no symptoms and the victims are young. Such cases occur mostly among youngsters for some countries. This shifts the infection demography towards the younger crowd. Although young cases have a higher chance of a full recovery, their recklessness had helped spread the virus further. Consequently, the population with vulnerable health would be bear brunt of infection, and lead to unnecessary wastage of valuable healthcare resources. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us a lesson on vigilance. In Singapore, the DORSCON measures adopted by the government is a constant reminder of the need for continual vigilance. Everyone should have adopted this mindset by now.
Similarly, as Christians, we should also maintain a sense of sustained vigilance towards the end times and our sinful nature. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray” (1 Peter 4:7). “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). The Bible teaches us to be alert of the devil’s scheme and plan. We, however, have not taken it seriously or put it into action, which includes refusing to put on a mask in the midst of the pandemic, visiting various households, and stubbornly continuing to party. We do not believe this world can be that dangerous and evil. Neither do we believe that enjoying the pleasures of sin would incur loss and result in God’s punishment. We want to gratify our immediate needs at the expense of disobeying God. We thought our penalties would not be severe, sin would go undetected, or that sin will not result in anything bad. But is this the truth? The spiritual giant, David, in the Bible committed adultery when he succumbed to lust. He then committed murder to conceal his sin. He thought no one would know. The ugly truth was eventually disclosed by God. David had to face the consequences for his sin because he was not alert (2 Samuel 11-12). God’s warning to us is real. We must obey them diligently. God does not only warn to stay alert. He has also taught us how to stay alert. The Lord reminds the disciples in Matthew 26:41 and us that we are weak, and need to depend on God to be spiritually vigilant. In our daily prayers, we need to pray for ourselves to stay away from sin, and not to fall into temptations. We also need to ask the Lord to help us to be sensitive to sin and its severity. Besides praying, fellowshipping with brothers and sisters in Christ and looking out for one another can also keep us vigilant. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10: 24-25).
May everyone stay alert, keep safe through the pandemic, and be steadfast in the last days of this dark age until the Lord returns!
translated by Elaine Chew
