Virus ... Epidemic ... Pandemic

Have you ever had a virus? The definition of virus is poisonous emanation … which means to come out from a source. Antibiotics can kill bacteria, but not a virus. The doctor says, “Just let it run its course”. One time I had such a bad virus in my eyes that my eyeballs turned blood red. My eyes felt like they had needles sticking in them … for days. It was hard to let it run its course.  

Virus is not a positive word.  

What about epidemics? The definition of the word epidemic is: affecting a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community or region at the same time.  

Have you ever lived through an epidemic? As a child, my brother and I lived through the epidemic of Asian flu. It is invisible and spreads through the air. But you know when you have it. I still remember how sick I was.  

Sometimes an epidemic turns into a pandemic … which means occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population. Several years ago we were warned to expect a pandemic from the bird flu.  

These are words that gain people’s attention … causing them to be afraid.  

Let’s switch gears for just a moment. What if these were positive words, with great meanings? What if a revival swept our land? I looked up the word revive. It means to return to life … to become active or flourishing again.  

Look at the word virus again. Remember the word emanation means to come out from a source? What if the source were Jesus? If we spread God’s love like a virus spreads … wouldn’t we help people return to life … to become active or flourishing again?  

Here’s my question for us as Christians. Are we contagious enough for anyone else around us to get it?  

Epidemic means affecting a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community or region at the same time. If we were spreading the good news, as the Bible tells us to, wouldn’t we be affecting a large number of people? Couldn’t that be called a revival?  

Can a pandemic be a positive occurrence? The definition of pandemic is neither positive nor negative. It just talks about the action … occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population.  

What if … just what if … we became so contagious with God’s love that someone else caught it and then someone else and then someone else? If we do our part, God promises to do His part.  

What if the headlines read, “God’s love is causing a pandemic and no one needs to be afraid”?  

Let’s see if we can contaminate someone tomorrow.

“That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.” Acts 2:41-42 (MSG)