Pearls of Great Value

Flatten the curve!

 

Thanks to COVID-19, I now have whole new set of medical terminology in my chest box. I know that epidemic refers to a sudden increase in the numbers of cases of a disease, while pandemic is an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents. I know terms like, clusters and asymptomatic. Let’s not forget quarantine,(that one has a whole new meaning for me.) How about, social distancing and isolation? I know, I too shudder when I hear those terms. But the one that got me thinking was... flattening the curve.  It’s meaning: slowing the spread, decreasing the transmissions.

 Why did it get me thinking? I was just watching as the world at large was trying to stop the spread of this virus and I thought... wouldn’t it be awesome if we could get everyone to be as vigilant to flatten the curve of sin? I believe that would be a lofty goal that would essentially solve a lot of our problems. 

 If we’re honest we’ll admit that sin has been a major factor in everything that has gone wrong in this world. You can go all the way back to Adam and Eve and then keep going through the generations, every time sin ran rampant, devastation followed. It’s still true today and the more we “omit” God, the faster the curve that sin creates - moves upward. I purpose, we flatten this curve. I’m all for it. Let’s get back to the basics: Love God with all your heart, all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Let’s invite God back into all the places and areas where we’ve said He doesn’t belong. 

Look, we’ve tried doing it without Him, and frankly, it hasn’t worked out all that well for us. Why are we, in this age of social connections, labeled as having a loneliness epidemic? Why is depression and suicide rising, especially among young people? Why are so many children growing up without a father in the home? And what are the repercussions of that? If we’re going to ask questions, let’s ask the hard ones and then seek to remedy the fault and be the answer. 

 From the beginning, we’ve been exceptionally good with contributing to the climbing of the curve. We’ve let bad be called good, we’ve given in when we should have stood our ground, we’ve fled the battlefield when the surge against seemed too much. We’ve been guilty. But praise God for redemption. Praise God, that He is faithful when we are faithless. The salvation story proves this.  Romans 3: 23-26 tells us, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In this state we find ourselves in - on the upward rising of the sin curve - and in this state, God interrupted and flattened the curve with an incredible sacrifice of His Sons life. Jesus took on, what was an impossible mission and completely eradicated the enemy’s hold on us. He defeated satan, death and sin. That, my friend, is a redemption story. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us and the curve that seemed an impossible mountain, was flattened in a mighty act of sacrifice. Then Christ arose from the dead, and with that resurrection gave us the power of a transformed life, through Him the impossible now becomes possible!

 

I’m all for flattening the curve. I’m all in. I’ll be honest though, and admit, I can’t do it on my own. I need you. You need me. Together, we ARE stronger. God has said, where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them. (Matt 18:20) That is powerful! With God on our side, who shall be against us? 

 The triumphant words of Jesus on the cross, “It is finished!” still rings on through the ages, into our time right now. Let us grasp on to them, let us walk the way of victory. Let us choose Him once again and may the cry - IT IS  FINISHED! - ring loud and clear across our nations. Let us flatten the curve!