As a consequence of the rapid spread of symptoms, the entire school was shut down. The big question was ‘what was the composition of this deadly gas?’
A Story is told of a school teacher at a high school in Tennessee in 1998. She complained about a sharp “gasoline-like” smell in her classroom. Immediately after she gave this complaint, she became ill, reporting symptoms and signs such as nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness and a headache. Just after that incident, a great number of students in her class started to experience the same symptoms. As time went on the rest of the school were stricken.
As a consequence of the rapid spread of symptoms the entire school was shut down. The big question was ‘what was the composition of this deadly gas?’ A series of research and tests, including blood tests for anyone showing symptoms, were carried out, and government agencies also became involved. However, test results showed there was nothing deadly in this so-called “toxic gas” and blood tests came back negative for harmful compounds. Instead, according to Timothy Jones a local epidemiologist, “the fear of being poisoned had spread” was what actually fuelled the outbreak.
A report published in the New England Journal of Medicine attributed the outbreak to a phenomenon known as ‘mass psychogenic illness’, which occurs when the fear of infection spreads just as virulently as the disease itself. This was actually the origin of the experience of both teachers and students. And that was the real threat!
Now I can infer from the story above that the so-called ‘outbreak’ in Tennessee demonstrates that people can be scared – to the point of sickness – without any real threat present.
When I send pestilence among My people
It is recorded in the book of 2 Chronicles “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,” (2 Chronicles 7:13). It’s only a question of “WHEN” and not “IF”. And the time is now when God wants to give us a glimpse of what He has the capacity of doing and what response does He get from His people? “FEAR”. As the world experience the outbreak of Coronavirus, it is high time we realised that one of the divine strategies that God uses to get the attention of His people back on to Himself is sending plagues, storms, and catastrophes among them. At other times, He sends them to captivity for them to learn lessons and when they turn to Him, he gives them another chance because He is loving and jealous.
The Coronavirus outbreak has been a trending matter in the news for quite some time, but how are the people of God responding to this? “FEAR” It’s absolutely fine to be afraid, but we are not to dwell in fear. As the illustration in Tennessee shows, it’s fear that kills faster than any viral infection. When we dwell in fear and allow ourselves to be distracted by the media with frivolous publications, publishing all sorts of manipulated statistics and figures, the truth and the promises of God will not take root in our hearts.
Humbly Seek my Face!
In this critical period of the world outbreak of Coronavirus, the solution has already been given by the Creator of heaven and earth. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14). An open cheque has been offered to us and this is just a reminder. We only need to turn to God and engage in prayer, in humility, faith and expectation. Then we shall see the manifestation of His love, care and power over the world situation…Let’s turn to Him today, He will heal our land!
A Call to Repentance
12 “Now,
therefore,” says the Lord,
“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
13 So rend your
heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your
God,
For He is gracious and
merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
(Joel 2:12-13)
