GOD shakes the earth…and the Church!

By Pade Tokun
The Bible teaches us that God will shake the world prior to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even if opinions differ on the form of the shaking, all believers are expecting God to vigorously shake the earth at the end-time.
Although Covid-19 pandemic is not as terrible as the plagues described in the Bible in relation to the end-time distresses, God is using it to shake the world.
In reality, God is not shaking the world only, He is shaking the Church also. He is using the Covid-19 pandemic to shake the Church.
The Bible tells us the plan of God when He shakes the earth: “… the removing of those things that are shaken … that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Heb 12:27).
Whenever God shakes the earth, He makes some things to fall off, while other things remain. The superficial things that men put together shall fall off while the pure purpose of God shall abide. The Lord Jesus said: “… Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.” (Mat 15:13)
In the course of Covid-19, God will shake the Church. The empty human arrangements shall be challenged, but the real substance of the Kingdom of God shall remain intact: “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved … ” (Heb 12:26-28). The real issues of the Kingdom cannot be moved by any shaking.
The pandemic can destroy only the superficialities that men have built, it can do nothing to the real essence of the Church. Covid-19 has refused us ‘going to church’, but it cannot hinder the churches in our homes. Whereas the latter is the real substance that was established in the beginning of the Church, ‘going to church’ was a human arrangement that came later.
Gathering in large congregations, denominational organisation, strong centralised control, emphasis on finance etc. are human arrangements that are likely to fall off when God shakes the earth; and Covid-19 is already threatening them. They are the things that becloud the real issues of the Church, they confuse believers and rob the Church of her power and effect on the world.
Prayer burden
Lord use Covid-19 pandemic to shake off and uproot human arrangements that have been beclouding the substance of the Church and have rendered her ineffective in her calling.
 
▪ Tokun, a Lagos-based minister, is a former International Director of Calvary Ministries, CAPRO