“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23
Worldwide Pandemic
Christmas 2020 will be like no other in our lifetime. We are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic from COVID-19. Unless you were around in 1918 for the Spanish Flu pandemic — and I don’t think there are too many of us who were — this Christmas indeed will be very different.
Given the severity and contagiousness of the virus, every cautious procedure should be administered and followed within reason. As the scientists and medical professionals are working furiously toward making a vaccine available, we need to be patient and careful in our day-to-day activities. Most importantly, we all should be in daily prayer, for the Lord does have all things under His control — yes, even COVID-19.
As deadly as the coronavirus is, there is a worldwide pandemic that is more serious, more deadly, and has eternal consequences. It is the pandemic of sin. This worldwide pandemic started in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, and has been spreading throughout humanity ever since.
There are no scientists or professionals of any kind who can come up with a vaccine to prevent us from getting it. All of us have it; we were born with it. “[F]or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). But there is a cure for this pandemic of sin: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). God sent His Son, Jesus, born of a virgin, to this earth to wipe out the sin virus of each individual who will put their trust in Him for salvation.
This Christmas may indeed be different, but perhaps it is also the best opportunity for all of us to get back to celebrating the true meaning of Christmas and God’s purpose for sending His Son. As our gatherings with family and friends are smaller and our activities less, may we compensate the extra room and time and fill it with the Christ Child, who came to rid the world of the worldwide pandemic of sin.
— Loring Schultz
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