For the righteous run to it and they are safe.
It’s easy to think of the tower as some physical structure rising above the clouds and reaching out to heaven. Indeed, the human-made tower is a robust and imposing structure, fortified and capable of shielding people from the enemy. It is an edifice that projects above other buildings and from the top, one can see as far as the eye can manage.
In the days of early kings, towers were built in anticipation of attacks from the enemy in the future. Well, the future has come and we are at war with an invisible enemy. Unfortunately, modern towers dotted across the world and modern armies with all the sophistication at their disposal have been rendered ineffective against an enemy that has no rule of engagement, nor fights within a defined geographical space. We do, however, have hope. There is an invisible tower that is more powerful than a virus. The tower is the mighty name of the Lord, which is higher than all other names.
As the second wave of COVID-19 begins to sweep across the globe, especially in places like China and South Korea, it’s only a matter of time before it gets to our doorsteps – again. There are spikes in California, Texas, and Arizona already as I write. In the face of the resurgence, there is no indication that there will be another lockdown to shield people from the transmission. The authorities are unwilling to shut down as their immediate concern hovers around politics and economic recovery.
The advice is that we adhere to CDC and WHO guidelines – the regular washing of hands, coughing into the elbow, use of hand sanitizers, maintaining social distance, wearing masks and so on. While these measures reduce the chances of getting infected, none of them is full proof.
There is no vaccine in sight and the medical community is overwhelmed. What this means is that we are left to fend for ourselves with the hope that herd immunity will kick in. For this reason, there is palpable fear – people are confused and don’t know what or where to turn.
Fear not! Says the Lord, for He has not given us the spirit of fear but of love and a sound mind. In Him, we find complete safety. This commitment is confirmed in the book of Proverbs 18:10 that says, “the name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.”
That said, and even though we are guaranteed safety, we have a role to play as there are actions that need to be taken. The scripture says RUN. It also says we should be RIGHTEOUS. To be righteous means to be in good standing with God. It isn’t easy to run with a load of unrighteousness. Christians are expected to drop their baggage of sin and iniquity, thus making their run swift and light. There lies the ultimate vaccine. We, therefore, need to evaluate our lives to see if we qualify.
Recent events and the way coronavirus has been handled shows we cannot put our trust in man. It is at times like this that we need to trust and have absolute belief in the name of the Almighty God. Remember that we are His children who are called by His name. The path to the strong tower was predetermined before we were born and as such, in perilous times like this, we should run to Him.
Only Him can ensure our total safety. And as David prayed in Psalm 20:1-2, “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion.”
And so, shall it be.