Body
COVID-19. Is anyone ready to get back to normal? As we all know, this virus has various symptoms such as a cough, fever, headache, shaking with chills, sore throat, shortness of breath, muscle pain, and even loss of taste or smell. And yes, we're all aware that it has sadly proven to be deadly. We also know that washing hands regularly, not touching our face with unwashed hands, disinfecting surfaces, and social distancing can help to reduce infections. As of today, we have over 3 million cases of COVID in the U.S., though there is some evidence that the number could be 10 times or more higher. It appears that multitudes have been infected but have had no symptoms. It seems that all we've heard for the past 4 months is "COVID this" and "COVID that." Despite all of the time, money, and effort spent on this fairly innocuous virus, there's been next to no emphasis on the REAL "virus" that infects EVERYONE. God led the Prophet Jeremiah to write, "The heart is deceitful above all things and incurably sick" (17:9). No matter how many times we wash our hands, no matter how much bleach we use to disinfect our house or business, no matter how far we "social distance" from others, it does nothing to "sanitize" our hearts. In fact, there is no human cure, no vaccine, no medical procedure that can tame, let alone erad-alone eradicate, this "virus" called sin. Billions of dollars are spent to police it and tamp it down to no effect. Nevertheless, there is a remedy. His name is Jesus. Jesus Himself said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep" (John 10:10-11). Indeed, there's only one thing that can cleanse our sinful souls, as the Apostle John wrote, "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). Have you been cleansed?