By Pastor Bob Lawrenz
In 2011, Fukashima Japan suffered a triple disaster. An Earthquake hit; a nuclear power plant was damaged; and the subsequent tsunami from the earthquake sent a wave crashing along the Japanese coastline for miles. Thirty-foot high Tsunami Protection Walls were not enough to save even inland towns and villages. The damage was inestimable. My local Public Broadcasting Network aired a documentary about the multifaceted event just as we all were preparing to practice “Social Distancing” and closing many businesses.
One screen view showed how the tsunami was generated by the earthquake, and then showed its path of travel. Like a ripple from a stone cast into a pond, the tsunami waves radiated outward. The entire Pacific was put on tsunami alert, from Indonesia, to the Philippines, to Hawaii, and even to the West Coast of the USA.
I could not help but draw a comparison to the way the COVID-19 virus has spread and endangered so many lives. The earthquake’s more than 500 aftershocks were in diverse places along the fault line, and each of those reminded me of individuals going out and spreading COVID-19 to many other individuals in diverse places.
With water resistance and distance, the tsunami’s 30 foot waves were reduced to small waves on California’s beaches. But travelers exposed to the virus offer it no resistance at all, and only serve to spread the virus world-wide, with catastrophic results.
Just as all mankind is susceptible to viruses, we are all vulnerable to temptations as well. Who we associate with is just as important as maintaining good health spiritually and physically. Person-to-person relationships offer no resistance to sin, and we can easily be swept away before realizing some of our chosen companions were a mistake to choose.
“Social distancing” may very well work for the virus, but the seeds of sin are already in us at birth. While scientists and chemists look for a cure for the virus, Jesus offers us the only immunity and cure for sin. Come to Him; stay close to Him; and share your immunity with others.
“If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
[As of 27 February 2017, the Fukushima prefecture government counted 2,129 "disaster-related deaths" in the prefecture. This value exceeds the number that have died in Fukushima prefecture directly from the earthquake and tsunami.]
Forget about building a life on the beach;
come stand upon the Rock!
