From Bihar With Love Bro. D. Augustine Jebakumar

FroM BihaR WitH LovE Dear Prayer Partners in Christ Jesus, Greetings to you in the name of our loving Lord Jesus Christ who shoGreetings to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who declared: “I am

the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8: 12).

It has become obvious that during these dark and trying times, leaders of all hues - political and spiritual have been found wanting in their understanding and handling of the COVID-19 situation. As a consequence of this pandemic, the ensuing economic turmoil and joblessness and intense fear and distrust of everything, will result in changes happening at social, religious and political levels. COVID-19 has differentiated nothing and has attacked all, proving the Bible verse that all mankind was made of the same blood (Acts 17: 26). Is it not a big slap on the faces of people that tried to divide mankind on the basis of race, colour, borders, language, status and even religion?

Impact on the Church This pandemic has motivated people to join as families and praise God, to try and understand Him better, to mend relationships and help others. It has also been a time for people

backsliding from God to turn to Him. Yet, we need to pray that all this does not happen on the basis of fear alone but also on the basis of love of God. Jesus gave His life so that by His death He

might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (Heb 2: 14, 15).

Economically able churches have trained their members to join worship through YouTube or other on line means. Those could not afford to do this have encouraged their members to conduct worships within families. It must be noted that churches based in missionary areas are struggling as the members may be new in faith and need the support. ‘When will the Lockdown end!’ is a despondent voice heard everywhere! It burdens my heart to know that Christians, who lack in faith, have been reluctant to proclaim that Jesus is the way because in Christian countries of America and Europe, the death toll has been high. We cannot make them understand that this is God’s way of making these in-name-only Christian nations to return to God. Only God can make this happen.

Impact on Society Many a surprise awaits school and college students. Due to the fact that these have been shut down for such extended periods, many, especially young kids have forgotten the experience of going to such institutions. Not everyone has the luxury of online education. Neither is it possible for all parents to have the ability to help their kids in this regard. People that had returned from their places of work (both domestic and international) have now lost the will power to return. Relatives also tend to discourage people from returning to their work places. People that were already below the poverty line have been pushed down further and have attempted suicides. The voices of lament can be heard everywhere. June 2020 The many loans taken by small business owners have crushed them. Since the buying power has gone down, many entrepreneurs

have been affected. Since the savings have gone down, many a girl’s wedding has also been put on the back burner. People in the import-export business, due to restrictions on travel, have not been able to transport their products, which then get wasted or damaged. Also with delays in receiving their payments, they are unable to pay salaries and payments to vendors affecting livelihood of so many as chain reactions. In this way, I can keep listing more issues that both we and the nation will continue to face. I can also see some good happening during these times. People are more involved in charity now. ‘Share and live’ has become the mantra for some now.

What can we learn? In such an environment, as children of God we can learn a number of things. David, a man chosen by God and a man favoured by the Lord, either by his choice or not, was staying locked down – this is a truth we learn from the Bible. For almost ten years, to save himself from Saul, he had to run and hide. He laments that ‘there is only a step between me and death’ (1 Sam 20: 3). He cried: ‘I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul’ (1 Sam 27: 1). Numerous times he hid in caves and in mountain cracks. He had to be very careful that none knew of his whereabouts. He had to hide in the ‘strongholds in the woods’ (1 Sam 23: 19). The people around David were also careful about protecting David. When Saul chased David like the Corona virus, David had to quarantine himself and remain in self-imposed isolation. It was during times like this that he penned most of his psalms. When we meditate on these psalms, we can begin to understand a few things and also receive help in our spiritual growth. Even after becoming a king, David had to run and hide from his own son – Absalom. The words that he spoke then have turned out to be prophetic. Consider Psalm 22, ‘My God, My God, why have You

forsaken Me?’ (Psalm 22: 1). Was this not the same verse that Jesus spoke on the cross? Is it not a psalm speaking of Jesus’s state then? Many of our Islamic friends will quote this verse and say: ‘If Jesus was God, why would He speak this verse on the cross?’ In Jesus’ time, the Psalms were not indexed and numbered like the present day Bible. Instead, the way to refer a psalm in those days was to quote the first verse which would help others know the psalm being discussed. Hence Jesus was simply reminding others that Psalm 22 was a prophesy about Him. If you read that psalm you will see that what’s mentioned did not happen to David, instead were a prophesy on what will happen to Jesus.

‘Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me’ (Psalm 22: 12). ‘They pierced My hands and My feet’ (Psalm 22: 16). ‘I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me’ (Psalm 22: 17). ‘They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots’ (Psalm 22: 18). ‘All those who see me ridicule me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue him; let Him deliver him, since He delights in him!”’ (Psalm 22: 7, 8). ‘There is none to help’ (Psalm 22: 11).

All these things happened to Jesus on Calvary just as prophesied by David. Just like Isaiah had said, hasn’t David prophesied about Jesus’s struggles? When locked down, being pressured from all sides, when let go by all, when his future was uncertain, when darkness was crouching on him, his lament at that moment became a prophesy June 2020 to be fulfilled in Jesus. Oh what a blessing that must be! Was it not his terrible situation that aided in these beautiful verses being said? It would have been impossible for him to have sung such verses in happy times!

Likewise, was it not because John was isolated in the island of Patmos, that God revealed the future to him? He was able to even see things that were to happen 2000 years later! He was hence able to warn future generations. He was also able to clearly write about the Lord’s thousand years rule. Was it not the isolation that brought about these things? Maybe experiences like that are possible at times like these. Also, it was during such locked down times that Paul wrote most of his letters, which have been the basis of the church and its teachings. Being locked down is hard, yet when seen according to God’s plan, it has immense foresight.

Looking unto the One above Leaders have started to say that we need to learn to live with Corona amidst us. It is like many that have lost their battle to sin pacifying themselves that they have to live in sin. Just like how our bodies can be protected by a vaccine against corona, likewise we need the vaccine of God’s word and His Spirit to fight the battle against sin. It is enough to protect us at all times against sin. During a time when crores have lost their jobs, worrying about their future, may the Lord help us in using this time to get closer to Him and expand His kingdom. Many have even decided to lose their lives having lost all hope. Many riots may happen. Due to lack of law and order on the streets, we might lose peace of mind and there might only be darkness around us. ‘I know whom I have believed and am persuaded

that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day’ (2 Tim 1: 12).

Lakhs of people are coming back in droves to Bihar. There is only the fear of death in their eyes. There is no work here, yet fearful of going back; the situation is still chasing them. We were able to help only a few; but eternal help will only come when they hold on to the One above, is it not?

Hope of Revival We thank the Lord a million times for the tireless many that have been upholding our mission through prayers and through monetary support. Even when our workers are unable to reach people, and the need of the nation is immense, and even when their own needs are high, these helping hands have been helping just like how Obadiah did during the days of Elijah (1 Kings 18: 3, 4). May the Lord strengthen them. There are many like Obadiah, who due to his work had to walk along with a godless man like Ahab, yet due to God’s love in him, helped when the need arose. There are many that believe that after these terrible times, a revival will definitely happen in the church. May this revival make the nation turn towards the Lord. We yearn for this to happen, that the hearts of people may be opened. May the Lord that opened Lydia’s heart also do so now (Acts 16: 14). May the doors that were closed in ignorance be opened. This is what we believe and desire. May the Lord extend the boundaries of the church; and may God’s people be blessed with visions.

In His Vineyard, D. Augustine Jebakumar

June 2020