Reflections (virus)

There is a virus going around the world.  Not just the coronavirus that occupies every waking moment of our lives.  We really do not know how many people this virus affects.  There are so many asymptomatic cases.  People make educated guesses.  We are not able to test everybody.  There is much not known.  Some report finding out they were infected and did not even realize it.  Some have very mild symptoms.  Some require ICU admission.  Some do not survive.
That has been all we have heard about for the past several weeks.  Many questions.  One certainty.  There is a coronavirus that is really nasty.
There is another virus.
This virus has been on the planet since almost the beginning.
This virus has infected everyone.
Here I go with a theological idea.  The virus is sin.
Several years ago I wrote about coming home from church one Sunday.  I was watching a football game, getting ready for lunch, and scanning Facebook.  I saw a familiar person's post and without thinking, clicked it.  That opened a virus that quickly spread to my contacts.  Ooops.
My lesson from that dealt with the insidious nature of sin (virus).  Don't pay attention and you spread it.
The sin virus is even worse.
It infects all.
Some do not even know they have it.  (That could be the self-righteous among us).
Some tolerate it.
Some find is devastating.
Ultimately we all discover that sin destroys.
Unlike the coronavirus that is among us today, there is a treatment, cure, and prevention.
This sin virus is treated with the grace of God that goes before us and creates new ways of living.
This sin virus is cured by the Cross of Jesus Christ. (It's power is defeated).
This sin virus is prevented by the on-going work of the Holy Spirit that leads us into new places of love and holiness.
Today, I give thanks to God for the miraculous and amazing manner in which He has defeated the sin virus.  I seek to live fully into God's way.
Today, I find confidence and hope that God will illustrate His victory by leading us to ways of overcoming the coronavirus.
This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
steve