CORE TENET June 24, 2020

Because of the fast rising number of CoViD-19 cases, the city I grew up in is now under hard lockdown (or would be, after the window hours, starting midnight to Friday).  And we see the armed forces poised to implement such, with tanks, trucks and armored vehicles going their rounds to patrol the streets, along with top government officials and mediamen.

I thought this should only be happening here, especially in the depressed areas where those cases were diagnosed, but when we look at news from abroad, it is also happening in other countries too, in middle-class clusters and affluent communities, in markets, entertainment areas, in factories and offices.

The World Health Organization and each country’s Health Departments and Infectious Disease Centers have observed that the reason for these is because people did not strictly follow the health and safety protocols mandated in order to prevent the spread of the virus.  Governments too, decided that the economies be reopened early in order to prevent more loss to businesses and people’s livelihoods.  So in this worldwide health war, in the battle between life and money, money was made to win.  And of course, we know that life was sacrificed. 

In both cases though, I observe one commonality.  And it is—disobedience.  We see governments and administrators not upholding the life, liberty and property they are sworn to protect equitably, and since many countries are within election periods within the year and the next couple of them, I believe that they think letting the economy reopen and run with lesser control is the key to upholding a semblance of order and normality, and a better impression and impact on the people.  Alas, the unseen enemy is still there, and this time, faster and more vicious.  Many countries say they are experiencing the second wave, and it seems to be deadlier and more mutated.  This just goes to show that without a proper view towards the future, with complacency, and disobedience (all of which, by the way, according to the Word are manifestations of what it blatantly calls SIN), the thing we want to eradicate will come back to haunt us and destroy us more severely (like what Jesus Christ preached about the exorcised person whose soul, upon becoming vacant, was once again filled with deadlier and more numerous evil spirits—Matthew chapter 12, verses 43 to 45).

We read in today’s devotional in the Apostle Paul’s epistle to the Romans, chapter 6, what sin is like and what a person does when under its influence.  The apostle echoed what is written in the first book of the Torah, that sin (in Genesis, it was called by its simpler name—Disobedience) leads to death.  And yes, in our world today, a simple act of not wearing a mask properly, not diligently doing social distancing, neglecting to disinfect properly, and even not eating or sleeping properly and continuously engaging in vices, are what separate the safe and the survivor from those who will painfully get sick, be isolated and die alone, with their remains unviewed and immediately cremated.

However, the Apostle also reminded us that Jesus Christ has perfected our salvation.  And if we want to partake of the eternal life He has promised, we have to be obedient to Him, to the lifestyle that He told us to live by, and to relinquish any form of rebellion against His Word and His plan for us.

And so, we read the evangelist’s most popular verse, thus: “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ.” (verse 23)

I re-shared what a friend re-shared, about the consequences of not obeying the health and safety protocols we must do in order to ensure our safety and those of the people around us, and unfortunately, its topic is gruesome—the scenario of death, from complacency, pride and disobedience. 

Indeed in these challenging times, may we not forget that we live parallel lives:  physically, any amount of pride, complacency and disobedience leads to sickness and death, not only for us but for the people we are in contact with.  So too, may we remember that in our spiritual lives, if we continue disobeying GOD and go further away from Him, it leads to spiritual sickness and death.  May we never forget this core tenet of the Christian faith, and what we must do to uphold and live it.