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Wearing a mask to “love your neighbor as yourself” is not a Biblically correct idea. The truth is that God’s children are to be free from fear, free from worry. As we walk according to the will and Word of God we are safe from the pitfalls of this world. We are safe from want because Jesus tells us, “… do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:24-25
We are safe from sickness because God’s Word says of Jesus in Isaiah 53:5 “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” Not will be healed, but are healed. It is ALWAYS His will to give us good. His hand is ALWAYS reached out towards ours.
Our job is to walk in faith by the words of our mouth. We speak what is in our hearts. Our words accept or deny Him. “Oh, I am fearful I will get sick!” or “I don’t know how I will pay rent!”– those words deny Him, deny your faith in Him.
Sometimes we have to go to a doctor because we cannot summon the faith to fight our affliction and that too is OK, God still loves you but Hebrews 11:6 tells us “…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” We need to practice our faith.
The other day I read these most insightful words from Daniel Pontious. He said, “Jesus’ death and resurrection have stripped the devil of all His power, except the power of deception.” We are easily deceived when we do not know (or believe) God, God’s Word or God’s promises. Many people think that they know what is good yet they are deceived. They are led away by lies because they do not have a strong foundation in God’s Word.
We are told trials and tribulations will come. James 1:2-4 says “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” We are to stand in faith under trial like Job did, believing God is good and God is faithful. James 1:12 goes on to say, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”
I would say that wearing a mask in the face of Covid-19 is not a display of love, it is a display of fear. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment; and the one fearing has not been perfected in love.” I John 4:18. The best love is to introduce your neighbor to Love Himself, Jesus Christ.
