We are now a week into our 3rd national lockdown, and whilst there is the general question about how long will it last, there is another frequent question on people’s lips, ‘Have you had your vaccination?’ The first person to receive the jab said, ‘This vaccination means everything to me, I can now get back to normal life’. There is great joy and also great expectation as the vaccines are rolled out across the country and millions are waiting for the invitation to be inoculated.
The government statistics, at the time of writing, are worsening day by day, and there are still many unanswered questions about the situation that we face as a nation. But as the vaccine has been referred to as a ‘Saviour’, this is reflected in the tremendous surge of hope and expectation that it will be the answer to the pandemic. There is a strong and growing faith, that if everybody could be vaccinated then life will return to normal and we can resume living as previously. But what if this ‘faith’ is misplaced?
Covid-19 appears to have penetrated every nation in the world and there are very few people who have not been affected nor have escaped its malicious influence, but the truth must still be told and clearly understood that this virus is not the worst problem that the world’s population is currently facing.
The greatest problem that confronts the world today is still being ignored, misunderstood, disregarded, neglected and overlooked by the majority of people. Yes, it may be possible to vaccinate against Covid-19, thereby allaying fears of imminent death and putting off that fateful moment when life ceases, but what can be done about the world’s major problem? That problem is sin, which is ‘me first’, selfish disobedience and rebellion to our Sovereign Lord God and Creator, which causes eternal death. “ … for the wages of sin is death …”
When someone dies, it is often the case that the loved ones who remain gain great comfort by saying that the person, ‘is now free from pain … now at peace … somewhere up there looking down on us’.
Where do those thoughts originate? Are they true? What is correct?
God tells us very clearly in His Word, the Bible, that each of us …
“is destined to die once and after that to face judgement …
… but Jesus Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people”
“each of us will give an account of himself to God, for the way we have lived our lives”
There is no vaccine to stop us sinning or to prevent us receiving the due punishment for our sin. But there is tremendous, wonderful, joyful, amazing, outstanding Good News “For God loved the world so much, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” If we humble ourselves before the Lord, and believe that Jesus has taken our punishment for our sin and died in our place, then Almighty God promises to forgive all our sin and disobedience. That is the most amazing good news that anyone could ever hear.
But there is more … God gives new life: “so that we will not sin, but if anybody does sin, we have
One Who speaks to the Father in our defence, Jesus Christ … Who is the atoning sacrifice for our sin” IT DOES NOT GET BETTER THAN THAT!!!
These are the most glorious, comforting and reassuring words that we could hear in these days of distress and disaster. For through the life of the Lord Jesus, we have everything we need to stand firm against sin and every attack of Satan and to know and experience the full peace, joy, grace and life with our Saviour … forever.
Do you know that? What will you say when you meet the Lord God face to face?
Ron Brickman