Hope In The Face Of Disaster

"Today's Devotion" For March 20, 2006

Read: Matthew 9:35-10:8; I John 1:5-10

HOPE IN THE FACE OF DISASTER

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits - Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases."(Ps.103:2,3)

Over the past couple of years we've been receiving warnings that a new kind of flu virus is "brewing." It's a new form of avian flu, "bird flu," which is still confined to birds - and mostly farm poultry as far as is known at this time - and hasn't jumped into the human population. Scientists are telling us that there's no known vaccine against this particular flu virus and once it mutates and makes the jump to humans so that it can be passed one human being to another we can expect a worldwide pandemic. The death toll estimates from this form of flu are projected to be in the millions worldwide.

Certainly such a pandemic is a fearful thing. For all intents and purposes, it appears that it's inevitable - it can't be prevented, only, God willing, contained. Governmental, scientific, and medical agencies on the local, state, national, and international levels are doing what they can to get people ready to face what many believe to be the inevitable crisis. Medical researches and other scientists are working feverishly (or so we're told) to find a way to prevent the disease or mitigate its effects. At the same time, I'm struck by the thought that no matter how well prepared we might be to face this new health threat, people are going to die, perhaps even you and me. And that's a scary thought, not so much because we might fear death (which we have no need to fear if we are in Christ), but because it seems obvious we can't control the disease. This is made more evident when we realize that we're in the time of year when the migration of so many birds over large portions of the earth is taking place.

Yet, no matter how devastating such a pandemic might be, it's a minor nuisance in the face of the greatest pandemic of all - Sin. Because of Sin, humanity is separated from God, even going so far as to refuse His grace and mercy. Because of Sin, death is a reality of life - only because of Sin could there be any danger of a "bird flu" pandemic and the death it can bring. Because of Sin, death doesn't just affect people in time and space, but also in eternity - a total and devastating separation from God (spiritual death) for eternity.

When people look into the face of such destruction, it's quite reasonable for people to despair. Yet, God brings His healing power into our lives, spiritually healing us through the forgiveness of sins He offers through faith in Jesus Christ. In His great love He also provides various means of healing, just as Jesus healed during His ministry on earth, so that people might experience His grace, mercy, and love in tangible and meaningful ways. Through the vocations of doctors, nurses, medical specialists, pharmacists, researchers, and a host of other people who work in the health and medical fields, God works to bring us His love and His healing in the face of Sin's devastation. In His great grace and mercy, our Father in heaven works through others for our good and His glory. No matter how much the world might look at the potential of a pandemic of "bird flu" and the death toll it's projected it will exact, or, for that matter, as we face every other challenge to life and limb, peace and tranquility in life, God offers us hope and peace in Jesus. Confessing our sins, then, we are confident of Christ's forgiveness and certain that, no matter what, we will be with Him forever in heaven.

Prayer: Father, as I listen to the news of the day I hear so many frightening and terrible things happening in this world. There are projections of millions of deaths from a potentially deadly virus. War and terror also exact a toll of human life in various places. Crime and human folly also cost people their lives every day. The disease of Sin grips the world, Father, and it fosters diseases of every type and stripe. Finding a cure by human intervention will never happen, for there are no vaccines against sinning and the consequences of sinning. Only Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ can cure the diseases that affect me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. As I face the potential disasters of life, gracious Father, give me the strength of Your Word and Spirit so that I might at all times acknowledge my sin before You, repent of it, and, trusting in Jesus, receive Your forgiveness and love. As I live in Your forgiveness help me to live a fearless life in Jesus, even in the face of disaster, filled with Your joy and peace, fully prepared to boldly proclaim Your love and forgiveness to all the world. In Christ's precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.