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BAD NEWS OVER GOOD NEWS

In an interview with CNN, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that the COVID-19 spread is slowing down:

“The number is down, because we brought the number down. God did not do that. Faith did not do that. Destiny did not do that. A lot of pain and suffering did that.” In the same breath, he claims to be Catholic. Ironic, isn’t it?  

The Friendly Atheist writes, “Cuomo is famously Catholic even if his politics don’t fall in line with the Catholic Church. (In other words, he’s just like most Catholics.)” It is an indictment that non-followers know exactly what followers are supposed to be following but are not. It is shameful that they understand the faith more.

The quote that found its way in headlines reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a friend who opined how the scare would result in a revival.

“Yeah but momentarily until this is over,” I said.

“Why do you think that?”

“That’s just human nature.”

Trace the great calamities and disasters in modern history and you will see how people ran to God but dropped Him like a bent canned good donation as soon as life recovered. Read the Old Testament and you will see how God was sideswiped time and time again. But Cuomo’s declaration is interesting. He dismissed God during a crisis, not afterwards which helps me understand something that has baffled me since I became a Christian---the mystery of Revelations 6:16.

In the midst of Armageddon which makes all world wars and global pandemics look like the good old days, people would be “calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.’" (ESV)

When confronted by the truth of who God was, they would rather die from suicidal rockfall instead of running to Him for salvation. After realizing who God truly is or who truly is God, they would rather die than face Him. Up to the end, they will resist Him who is no longer a swear word, the butt of jokes, or a fictional character. Is it pride, shame, or regret? Ah, such is human nature.

But what about us who claim to have the Holy Spirit? Do non-believers know more of how we should live out our faith than we? Needless to say, it compromises our credibility when now, more than ever, as we are surrounded by bad news, people might be more receptive of the Good News. But looking at our testimony, would they prefer the virus because they have seen through our hypocrisy, that we have nothing better to offer to take the place of their fear, and that we are as hopeless as they are? Forgive us, O Lord. Forgive us.

In an interview with CNN, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that the COVID-19 spread is slowing down:

“The number is down, because we brought the number down. God did not do that. Faith did not do that. Destiny did not do that. A lot of pain and suffering did that.” In the same breath, he claims to be Catholic. Ironic, isn’t it?  

The Friendly Atheist writes, “Cuomo is famously Catholic even if his politics don’t fall in line with the Catholic Church. (In other words, he’s just like most Catholics.)” It is an indictment that non-followers know exactly what followers are supposed to be following but are not. It is shameful that they understand the faith more.

The quote that found its way in headlines reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a friend who opined how the scare would result in a revival.

“Yeah but momentarily until this is over,” I said.

“Why do you think that?”

“That’s just human nature.”

Trace the great calamities and disasters in modern history and you will see how people ran to God but dropped Him like a bent canned good donation as soon as life recovered. Read the Old Testament and you will see how God was sideswiped time and time again. But Cuomo’s declaration is interesting. He dismissed God during a crisis, not afterwards which helps me understand something that has baffled me since I became a Christian---the mystery of Revelations 6:16.

In the midst of Armageddon which makes all world wars and global pandemics look like the good old days, people would be “calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.’" (ESV)

When confronted by the truth of who God was, they would rather die from suicidal rockfall instead of running to Him for salvation. After realizing who God truly is or who truly is God, they would rather die than face Him. Up to the end, they will resist Him who is no longer a swear word, the butt of jokes, or a fictional character. Is it pride, shame, or regret? Ah, such is human nature.

But what about us who claim to have the Holy Spirit? Do non-believers know more of how we should live out our faith than we? Needless to say, it compromises our credibility when now, more than ever, as we are surrounded by bad news, people might be more receptive of the Good News. But looking at our testimony, would they prefer the virus because they have seen through our hypocrisy, that we have nothing better to offer to take the place of their fear, and that we are as hopeless as they are? Forgive us, O Lord. Forgive us.

Author

Elizabeth Ong

Elizabeth Ong is an author, lecturer, an app creator, and a businesswoman. She has a master's degree in Biblical Studies from Asian Theological Seminary.