In the mornings I arise early, at the latest 4 a.m, pray, drink my coffee, and read the news from the #Philippines online. Today was no different than usual, except a Filipino person responded to my posted comment on the news site, by telling me to kill myself.
My comment
As usual, the news was filled with news about the #virus and the lockdowns. The PNP was backing off their threat to arrest violators of the lockdown. I shrugged off the fear narrative and posted a comment. I simply said, "Do not fear, for the Lord told us to trust Him."
His/Her reply
I was both amused and sad at the reply that came mere minutes later. The reply read something like this: "If you are not afraid to die, go kill yourself now."
I was amused that my comment offended him, for I was merely stating the obvious. Worry and fear are tactics of Satan, and they are unnecessary in our lives, Christian or otherwise.
I was also sad to see that so many people around the world are frightened and take their anger out on others. It's easy to be a keyboard warrior. Things are said on the Internet that would rarely, if ever, be said to someone's face.
Surely someone of my height, weight and athletic build would never be confronted on the streets anywhere with a comment like this person did online behind the cover of cowardice.
Facts about the virus
I don't fear the virus spreading around the world. Fear is the enemy of truth. "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV).
Before God ever created the world He knew what would happen to each one of us. He knows when we will die; He knows the number of hairs on our head!
However the virus came about does not worry me. I choose to live my life as free as possible and by walking in obedience to God's word. That's just me. Others are free to do as they please, hide, stay imprisoned or whatever.
But nobody should live in fear over something they do not control. Those masks "they" force us to wear do not work, especially the cloth masks. The only way to avoid the virus is to wear a hazmat suit, and that isn't going to happen.
The article I commented was full of fear. The intention was obvious: get the jab or die. Of course, this is a lie from the pit of hell itself. The CDC has advised that 99.7% of the people who contract the virus will fully recover.
The #PNP also advised that all people should continue to practice wearing masks, washing their hands and social distancing. I don't have a big problem with that. But here is what I noticed in the image the popular online paper printed: people were lined up as far as the eye could see, wearing cloth masks and crammed together like sardines in a tin can. The fear narrative was working.
I couldn't help but note the hypocrisy. Where was the social distancing? Where was the PNP to enforce the IATF rules?
I suppose it was okay to line up like robots heel-to-toe, as long as the jab was going to be administered. However, if protesters or groups more than 10 are found, they can be arrested. The irony!
My final reply
I don't want to die. Nobody really does, right? Anyway, I replied to the evil comment in this fashion: "My time is decided by the Lord, not by evil people who are far from Him."
It's good to know that the vast majority of Filipinos treat me well as a foreigner in their country. But I chose long ago to make this country my home, so I call it my country now.
All I ever want to do is live peacefully on the beach in freedom, help people when I can, and not live in any fear. I trust in the Lord Jesus and am not ashamed of His gospel.
Here's something in parting: think rather than react. Better yet, heed this command of the Lord: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29, NIV).
Thank you, Philippines, for your kindness and grace! I remain inspired.
Aha I see so you live here now. Which country did you come from?
There are many trolls online. Those who use dummy accounts usually think it is alright to be rude to others. Haha. If they only knew, they will also be accountable to everything they do, even the bad ones "no one" knows about.