Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) is considered to have been one of the greatest defenders of the Christian faith during the 20th Century. For those of you who may not be familiar with him, he was born in Northern Ireland and became a professor of Medieval English Literature, first at Oxford University (1925-1954), and later at Cambridge University (1954-1963).
He committed his life to Christ when he was 32 years old, and he proceeded to write many insightful and inspiring books about Christianity. These included some that have become Christian classics, like The Problem of Pain (1940), The Screwtape Letters (1942), The Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956), and Mere Christianity (1952).
In 1948 he published an essay titled, “On Living in an Atomic Age.” Although it was written 72 years ago, it is very relevant to the coronavirus pandemic that we are dealing with today. As you read the excerpt below, just substitute “coronavirus” for “atomic bomb.”
C. S. Lewis’ Essay
“In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. ‘How are we to live in an atomic age?’ I am tempted to reply: ‘Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.’
“In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors — anesthetics; but we have that still. It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.”
“This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things — praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts — not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”
Concluding Thoughts
The Bible says that one of the reasons Jesus came to this earth was to free people from their bondage to the lifelong fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). Those of us who have put our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior should live and walk in that freedom.
We should live with confidence and not in fear because we have hope — the promise of living forever in new, glorified bodies in a new Jerusalem on a new earth (Revelation 21:1-7).
David Reagan: We should live with confidence and not in fear because we have hope — the promise of living forever in new, glorified bodies in a new Jerusalem on a new earth (Revelation 21:1-7). Click To TweetSo, as people gripped with panic fight each other at stores to purchase toilet paper and Spam, we should be salt and light by exhibiting peace and calm in the midst of chaos. Doing so may prompt people to ask why we are behaving so calmly, giving us an opportunity to share the Gospel. One other thought — if you think the current panic is bad, it is nothing compared to what the mass panic will be like after the Rapture of the Church.
So disheartening for me because I know that God gave us the Essential Oils. 3-star Hyssop, sage, clove are very anti-viral & I have never seen them miss! Even the 2-star Oregano kills strep throat even the worst! THEY say only an anti-biotic will fix. Well, they lie. Over 20 years I found God keeps it simple for us sheep and most miss it!
I have long been a reader of Christ in Prophecy, myself being a student of Prophecy. May God continue to bless David Reagan and this ministry.
Maranatha, “Lord come quickly”!
Amen to that, Michael!
I really thank God Lamb and Lion Ministries for your wonderful way of sharing such great message of Christ in prophecy, for an update insights and revelations thru biblical perspective by the Christ in prophecy journal. As a member of the body of Christ in the Phils.I am grateful to the Lord to be a part of your team thru online. Keep up the good work brethren in Christ! Phil.1:6
Thank you for those encouraging words, Teresa! So good to learn that we could be a blessing to you.
Looks like it is working Nathan!!
My comment was –> Dave stated, “If you think the current panic is bad, it is nothing compared to what the mass panic will be like after the Rapture of the Church.” –> AMEN!
“For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things past, nor present, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from The Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I compare this event with the departure of the Israelite’s from Egypt in the book of Exodus.
Just before the last plague came a darkness descended over Egypt and all were in thick darkness, but the Israelite’s had light. They were asked to prepare the passover lamb and put the blood on the door posts as a sign to God this home was to be passed over in the last event before departure. They were told to eat in haste and be shod with their shoes, belts on and staff in hand when the midnight cry came for them to leave.
Today Christians are confined to home, church gatherings cancelled, but we have the light of Christ in our homes, we have the blood of Christ on the door posts of our heart and the Lord knows who are His. We are told to be watching with our shoes on, belts on and staff in hand so to speak and be ready for a sudden shout,with a voice of an arch angel at the last trump. The circumstances seem to be similar, perhaps this is a preparation for an imminent departure.
As we are not allowed to gather together at the moment for corporate worship, the only place left for us to go is “up there”!
Love this.
Peters Mother-law had the plague and JESUS healed her . The Roman guard was ready to torch her house when she walked out with Jesus and was healed. Many others were healed that day and the plague was stopped.
I have had this thought hounding me for the last 4-5 days and this article is prompting me to present it for your thoughtful consideration.
First, some background. I remember mass immunizations when I was a child. In the early 60s my parents took us to the school cafeteria where people were lined up to take the polio vaccine. I remember how awesome it was since it was on a sugar cube LOL! Then there was the smallpox vaccine. I, like many, still have the mark of the vaccine on my arm. Mass vaccination was just an accepted way of life.
Now fast-forward to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic/mass panic. Could there be another round of worldwide mass vaccination and then, here’s the kicker, could there possibly be an identifying mark showing that you have been vaccinated and are safe for public events? And here’s where it gets strange when you think of the mark of the beast.
Of course in the Bible the mark of the beast is clearly identified as a requirement to buy and sell. Without it one would be in a world of hurt. In the majority of the world’s eyes a universal identifier would help to curb illegal activities, money laundering, terrorism, illegal immigration and etc. But for many independent thinking, freedom loving people it would be seen as controlling and would be likely rejected. Also, it would be a hard sell and a big red flag to anybody who had an inkling about Bible prophecy.
Now think about the mass panic about the Corona pandemic. It would seem to me that people would be much more willing to accept an identifying mark to prove that they were vaccinated and safe so that they could attend public venues such as sporting events etc. which so many people miss. It would only be a very short step from there to requiring it for all public interactions. Anybody without the mark would be considered a danger to society.
I am not in any way saying that this is a fact and the way things will go down, but Lucifer is certainly clever and sneaky and will use people’s fears against themselves anytime he can. There is no doubt that a spirit of fear is upon the people of this world.
The words of CS Lewis are definitely right on. Even when substituting the coronavirus for nuclear warfare. I just that’s because the heart of man has not changed for thousands of years. No doubt the relevancy of the Bible, God’s word is totally divine.
Fascinating hypothesis, Jim! While the Mark is clearly portrayed as a branding signifying loyalty to the Antichrist, there could be so many other uses for it well, certainly economic, but also tracking and health reasons.
Nathan: Yes, thanks for that. Indeed “a branding signifying loyalty to the Antichrist” is key. My thoughts DO NOT not appear to fit that bill. Maybe this is just part of the path to grease the skids of acceptance of a world leader in control (for our supposed good of course)
This article fascinated me! Also, Jim’s thoughts (I have been contemplating how the world is reacting to this, and how it could so easily be the thing that unites and ushers in a ‘one-world’ response. It definitely could be an opportunity for something related to the end time ms being ushered in! But only God knows and sees the future! It’s just a reminder to be ready, and it seems like God is always keeping us on our toes with crises and disasters that make us wonder if the end might be near).
A verse from a passage my boys are memorizing is a good reminder not to fear our death or the death of loved ones: “From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth, and HE DETERMINED THE TIMES SET FOR THEM, and the exact places they should live” Acts 17:26. Believers don’t need to fear death, either by a virus or any other way! But, even should an unbeliever happen to die from the corona virus, as many already have, I imagine, God is sovereign even over that! He has set the time for their birth, their life, and no one will die apart from Him being sovereign even over that! We just HAVE to trust Him… if He allows a virus, knowing it will take lives, then we have to be okay with it taking lives. Being secluded, not able to reach out to the ones who maybe need us most (like seniors in the homes, unable to have any visitors – even visitors that would proclaim to them the Gospel) seems SO WRONG to me. Submission to the gov’t is key, I know, and biblical! But so is going into all the world proclaiming the good news! Like someone mentioned in a comment above, Satan is clever, and tricky… how are you able to be the hands and feet of Jesus when someone needs more than an online comment in order to be reached for Christ?
REPENT Accept JESUS now before it is too late Jesus died for all he love all He is the son of GOD and GOD is LOVE John 3-16 for GOD so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but will have everlasting life JESUS died on a cross he was buried and on the third GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD REPENT BELIEVE GOD IS CREATOR AND FATHER OF US ALL WE ALL HAVE A FATHER WE MUST GO BACK TO HIM BY BEING BORN AGAIN AND RECIEVING. THE HOLY SPIRIT BY BELIEVING IN JESUS CHRIST WE WERE BORN IN SIN FROM ADAM AND EVE THEY SINNED AGAINST GOD whatsoever you ask the Father in JESUS Name he will do it if you ask in faith
All the above mention comments really is directing us toward the one World Government, that will ultimately see the return of Jesus Christ at some pointing time, which is in the Father’s hand. The best we can do in all what is happening is hold true to our mission of what we are called, and asked to do according to the word of God .
I look forward to receiving the Lamplighter magazine, its always very relevant to these times and also the Word of God which is so meaningful, especially in the Era we are living in when the signs of Christ’s coming are so evident.
Psalm 91. “Only the most High God will be our refuge and fortress and will deliver us from the perilous pestilence.”
Baruck Hashem, Bless the Lord Everyday.
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, be with family and celebrate life which is so precious.