|
|
|
But
now, O Israel, the LORD who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for
I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go
through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go
through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through
the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not
consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your
Savior. I gave Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba as a ransom for your freedom.
Others died that you might live. I traded their lives for yours because
you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
(Isaiah 43:1-4 NLV). The
flu has been around in some form or another for a long time. However,
there have been some strains of the virus that were more deadly than
others. In 1918 the Spanish Flu spread across the globe and was
responsible for over 100 million deaths. The Sydney Flu of recent years
was certainly deadly, but nothing compared to that of 1918. Scientists say
we are overdue for something along the order of the Spanish Flu. Ironically, both the origin and cure of this disease is to be found in the chicken coup! Chickens carry and pass on the virus. However, they also provide the basis for the vaccine to prevent it! A primary ingredient for manufacturing the flu vaccine is in hen's eggs. Dr. R. Schabas of Ontario, Canada, said, "The vaccine solution is frustratingly simple but it is essential to maintain a year-around chicken flock to produce vaccine in sufficient quantities to protect the population against the pandemic." Yet, the same pandemic could kill the chickens inside the coup before they kill humans. Another
pandemic occurred a many thousands of years ago to our very first parents.
God had placed two trees in the Garden of Eden, the tree of good and evil
and the tree of life. Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit of the first
tree. Life changed for them, and consequently, for all of us. But God
arranged for His Son, Jesus, to come to Planet Earth, live as a human but
show humanity that turning away from the wrongs we have committed and
asking for forgiveness is what God desires. God's solution was to arrange
a vaccine that will cure this sin-pandemic so He provided a tree for His
Son to die on. With this tree of life, we now can have our spiritual
health restored if we but ask Jesus to take over our lives as we serve
Him. God really desires that you take this vaccine! Just like the flu vaccine, some people are more afraid of the cure than the disease. I have heard so many people tell me that they are so frightened of the injection that they would rather take the risk of getting the flu. It has always seemed silly to me when the risk is truly measured. However, it is truly ludicrous to imagine risking eternal death rather than accepting the grace of God provided through Christ! “I’m not sure” or “I’m afraid” are not the words of rational thinking people in response to the invitation to follow Christ compared to the potential destruction of life outside of grace. Do you need to be “vaccinated” today? Put your trust in Him before it’s too late! |
|
