With God through the coronavirus
After 15 days in hospital, through God's grace, I have returned home to my family. I missed them, I strongly felt their absence and I am happy that God touched me and raised me back to my feet to see them again. I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart to all of you who stood beside us, encouraged and prayed for our family in these difficult times. May God bless you and reward you! If I am back to my feet it is but for the grace of God, your prayers and for the medical staff who treated and cared for me.
What happened? Three weeks ago I began to feel very ill and had a high fever. First, I thought it was a common cold. For six days I was constantly on antibiotics, paracetamol and all sorts of vitamins, but the fever remained the same 101.3 - 103.1 degrees Fahrenheit. The last two days before going to hospital I lost my sense of smell. It was at that point that I realised that I was infected with this dangerous virus. Honestly, I didn't think that such a thing could happen to me. But even God's children face trials and suffering but they have an anchor in times of need, they have God's peace and presence in their lives. (Phillippians 4:7).
I started feeling worse and worse. On the sixth day of high fever I felt breathless. I called for an ambulance and I was taken to hospital. I was seen by a doctor, X-rayed, my lungs were moderately to severely affected, I was tested for covid and the result was positive. It was as expected as I already had the symptoms but I knew that this thing was allowed by God. We do not know why, but He is in control and He is never wrong in what He does. The Bible says that "all things work together for the good of those who love God" (Romans 8:28).
The time spent in hospital was long and difficult. Initially I thought that in two or three days I would be back home but it didn't happen like that. For fifteen days IVs were constantly given to me, lots of medicine and I was given oxygen. But I am grateful to God that I didn't end up in intensive care. I was so weak that I couldn't talk to my wife on the phone more than one or two minutes and that seldom happened. At night I would wake up every other hour soaked in sweat. A few times I would touch myself to see if I was still alive and not dead. All I could do was to pray the Lord to keep me alive. He did it and I am deeply grateful to Him.
One day I asked my doctor what my chances to get well were. She told me that my lungs were severely affected but to keep praying, be optimistic and think positively. When I was released from hospital she told me: "You were very lucky, we have just taken a 35 years old patient in intensive care with low chances of survival". Another reason to thank the Lord for His love and mercy to me.
As a side effect to the medicines I was given, a dangerous bacterium entered my body and I had to get rid of it as soon as possible. The medicines were very efficient even though, for a week, I had an upset stomach but now I am fine. Weak as I was, during the last days spent in hospital I succeeded in talking a little with a wardmate about God. I was glad to see him listing one of my sermons on YouTube. https://m.youtube.com/c/CornelPascu/videos... I pray the Lord to give him good health, to bless his family and to work in his heart.
All along my staying in hospital God taught me many lessons. I will share a few with you.
First, I think I got a better understanding of the people subject to suffering. Not just to understand them but to identify with them and their suffering, to stay close and encourage and comfort them. There are so many suffering people and they need a helping hand and a shoulder to lean on. The Bible says: "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn" (Romans 12:15).
Secondly, I understood the importance of the prayer. If Lord Jesus, Son of God, needed prayer, I need it all the more. I was deeply touched by people whom I never knew or met who fasted and prayed for me. This is what love does, this is what a man born in God does, feeling someone's suffering from thousands of kilometers away. So many times I told a person "I will pray for you!" and I forgot. I got into the habit of never telling someone "I'm praying for you", I first pray for that person and then I tell that person that I did it just to encourage that person. The Bible says: "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).
Third, I understood that there is no warranty that everything goes smooth, nicely and well in life. My father was a faithful man and a dedicated servant of God but he died, aged 45, in a tragic accident. In my recent years I took part in more funerals than weddings, many of the deceased in God were my young cousins. Life is full of surprises, some beautiful others less beautiful that is why we must be prepared to meet our Lord at any moment.
"Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them". (Ecclesiastes 9: 12).
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For the last months I have met many faithful people infected with this virus, some have been cured as their symptoms were mild and others have died having more health issues. As far as I understand from my doctor, the virus gets into our body through the lungs after 8-9 days and then into the blood cells. Then it attacks the liver, kidneys, brains and all the other organs. A person with health issues and low immunity may be severely affected and even lose the battle. The virus reacts differently in everyone' s body. We all have to understand that we are vulnerable and never count on our own plans for the future.
The Bible says: "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21). Then, we have James words: "Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:13-15).
Fourth, to love someone doesn't only mean to pray for that person but also to protect him/her. What does this mean? To obey some simple common sense rules like wearing a mask, keeping the social distancing and washing our hands as often as possible. I sadly notice that there are many faithful people who not only deny the existence of this virus but they are also ignorant and careless, unwilling to obey any sanitary rules. This is pure selfishness and it is diabolic.
If we keep saying that we love our brothers, we must do everything to protect them. The Bible says: "Love does no harm to a neighbor" (Romans 13:10) When in hospital, I told one of my brethren about the critical situation I was in and his answer was that the virus didn't exist. Unfortunately, many people have preconceived notions and a non - Biblical mentality. However the Bible says "reject every kind of evil" (I Thessalonians 5:22). This means being a wise and cautious man.
Finally, I confess that I seldom dream at night. But, about a month ago I had a dream in which God clearly showed me that I would be hit. This dream was shared with my family and some other faithful people from Onești and they can testify about it. Honestly, I paid no attention to it then but, after all this critical situation, I tend to believe that it was from my God. I will not unveil it here but I think that God can speak to us in such a way, however these are exceptions, unique circumstances and we shouldn't make much fuss about them. God talks to people through His Word, through the Scriptures - His divine revelation.
Paul the apostle writes to the young Timothy: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Christ said: "The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life" (John 6:63). If we need anything the Scriptures and God's Word is what we really need.
The Gospel has changed my life and has offered me hope, joy, peace. I am happy to be God's child, saved by His immense kindness and grace. I am happy that I am alive and I can serve Him together with my wonderful family. I was released from hospital with a negative test, I felt very weak when I arrived home but now I am feeling better by the minute. "I can do all this through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).
May He bless you and protect you from any evil!
With appreciation, Cornel Pascu
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