Jo was fearful when I met her in May of 2018. Her anxious thoughts concerning return to China had triggered histamines, inflammation and upper respiratory congestion. She was aware of increasing persecution of Christians in China. We swapped emails and prayed for one another before her departure in June.
Jo emailed in July, “Things are getting more difficult and restricted. I’m not sure if it’s ok to share much details. All I can say is it’s getting a lot like N. Korea but not as difficult as that country yet. Things are changing much faster. Please lift me up whenever you remember. It’s highly appreciated.”
Jo continued passionately, “I am missing the U.S. SO MUCH! I miss the community that pursues Jesus and I love the freedom. I think this is kind of like spiritual loneliness. To be honest with you, I can perceive a little bit what it was like when Jesus came down from heaven to earth. He is well known in heaven. Every being up there worships and loves Him. But when He comes to earth, He gets rejected, hated and accused.”
I’ve not received any emails from Jo since August of 2018. Now, China is openly tearing down churches, imprisoning Christians for thought re-education and has shut down most communication going outside of China. The Chinese physician who first raised concerns about the Corona virus through Chinese social media, was imprisoned, caught the virus and died.
There’s a dangerous anti-God virus threatening not only China but each one of us. This dark spiritual virus says, “You don’t need God, His direction, His correction, His protection or His love.” This deadly virus ignored, has horrendous eternal consequences.
Humbly relying on God’s loving protection, correction and direction not only strengthens against earthly physical viruses like Corona but prepares one for security with Him forever.
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom… Without wise leadership, a nation falls; with many counselors, there is safety…The godly are like trees that bear life-giving fruit, and those who save lives are wise… If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, how much more true that the wicked and the sinner will get what they deserve! (NLT: Proverbs 11: 2, 14, 30 – 32)