The worldwide sickness even two vaccines will do nothing to solve
By Dean Collins
A hospital not far from where I live reported recently that this time last year they’d lost six patients who died with the flu. But this year there have been more 150 deaths of patients with Covid-19. Did some of those 150 have the flu, too? Did some suffer with underlying conditions? We can run down that road if we choose, but surely we can agree that vaccines with the chance of reducing the infection rate certainly have value. And now we have two of them.
But let’s not get so obsessed with our physical health that we forget the far more serious disease that has continued to infect us all. Some of you might have already started taking down your Christmas decorations, but none of us dare forget this: The baby born in Bethlehem was on a mission to address this disease that, left untreated, destroys 100 percent of us. This worldwide outbreak began in the Garden of Eden and has not stopped spreading. But there is hope!
Not infected
Joy to the world the Lord is come! A Savior was born!! Hebrews 4 continues this good news. Jesus our high priest left Heaven, came to earth, and was the only one not to get infected by sin. However, out of his great love he took all of our sin to the cross so that eternal separation and our eternal death could be conquered once and for all.
We don’t need a vaccine to take care of our sin problem. We need a Savior. At the foot of the cross we can find forgiveness and grace to help us in our time of need.
I will not minimize the importance of vaccines to stop the spread of Covid-19. And on top of that we hope they find a cure for the infected that works every time. But no matter how great the doctor and how marvelous the treatment, we never see 100 percent success rates in medicine. Thanks be to God, we have a 100 percent guaranteed rate of forgiveness in Jesus. And, just like the apostle Paul said, does that mean we should just sin more so we can get more grace? No, in Christ we not only have forgiveness but we have been set free from the bondage of sin.
Jesus has become what Hebrews described as the sure and steadfast anchor that keeps us centered and secure amid the raging tides of destruction sin has unleashed in the world. We can know not only our salvation but also experience living that reflect the love and grace of God. This leads others to find forgiveness, too.
Unstoppable
Covid-19 might have interrupted the world in significant ways. But let’s not forget that nothing can stop the people of God from sharing the hope and love of God daily. Let’s not be sluggish about the good news we have. People need the Lord so that they have access to real and abiding peace and joy made possible by the gift of Jesus.
Go ahead and get your vaccines when they are available. That might stop someone from getting sick and in some cases dying prematurely. But it is eternally important that we tell someone about the good news of Jesus. The great physician has the solution to our biggest problem, and it is free and available everywhere today. But it’s up to us to spread this good, good news!
Your time with God’s Word
Hebrews 4:14-16; Romans 6:4-14;Hebrews 6:9-12, 19-20 ESV
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