A Sure Cure

ITLE: A Sure Cure
DATE: November 28, 2018
TEXT: Romans 5:17 (ESV)  For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
People often ask me, “Pastor, don’t you think we are living in the last times?”

For various reasons, not the least of which is things aren’t bad enough yet’, I respond in the negative.

On the other hand, if someone were to have asked me that same question during one of the appearances of the Black Plague, my answer might be much, much different. Consider:

• a person could be feeling fine at breakfast and be dead by lunch;
• five members of a family could die, and the sixth could be spared;
• an entire village could be wiped out and the next village would be untouched
• Worst of all… nobody knew why any of this was happening. 

​Of course, nowadays we have Ebola substituting for the plague. Right now there is a new resurgence of the disease in the Congo. Like past outbreaks, this one has managed to take the lives of hundreds. Unlike past outbreaks, this one is not easily controlled.
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While past outbreaks were in rural areas, this one is in places more densely populated. Along with that, health care workers are going to areas of rebel activity and being met by villagers who don’t trust them. Things have become so bad some officials are publicly saying they may not be able to stomp out this outbreak. 
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I hope they are wrong.

Of course, if we want to talk about plague, pestilence and mortality rates, we dare not forget the ravages of sin. It is hard to imagine that there was a time when the world was a perfect place filled with perfect people. But then, through the willing disobedience of our first ancestors, that perfection was lost. Humanity disobeyed their Creator and death became our lot. 
As Paul wrote to the Romans (5:12) “by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin.”

Yes, the plague of death had been introduced into the world and our future fate was sealed.  Even today death remains a condition for which human resources and research can offer no hope. On our own we have been frustrated and helpless to find a cure from the condemnation which results from our many transgressions.

Thankfully, we are not on our own.

Seeing our sad and sorry situation, the Lord decided to do everything which was necessary to rescue us. To that end He sent His Son into this world. Here Jesus spent His life winning that cure which is 100% effective in saving those who had been infected by sin.  When His work is placed into a believing human heart the healing is instant and complete.

Believing in that cure, John wrote: ‘the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.’ (1 Jn 1:7) Thank God it does.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that we who were once hopeless have been given hope; those who once were destined for death are given Jesus’ blood-bought cure. May we always be thankful for this undeserved gift of life. In Jesus’ Name I ask it. Amen.

The story upon which this Daily Devotion is based was written November 11, 2018 and carried by AlJazeera. The website where the parent article can be found is: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/drc-ebola-outbreak-worst-country-recorded-history-181110141022940.html

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann, one of my long-ago  confirmands. He is singing with three brothers. This song comes from the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html