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An
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Pandemic Dr. Margaret Chan, chief of the World Health Organization (WHO), declared yesterday: “The world is moving into the early days of its first influenza pandemic in the 21st century.” This announcement makes it official that swine flu is now formally a pandemic – but what does that mean? Webster defines the adjective “pandemic” to mean “occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population.” According to Encyclopedia Britannica, pandemics arise from epidemics, which are outbreaks of disease confined to one part of the world, such as a single country. The Associated Press reports that Thursday's announcement by the World Health Organization doesn't mean the virus is any more lethal — only that its spread is considered unstoppable. Since it was first detected in late April in Mexico and the United States, swine flu has reached 74 countries, infecting nearly 29,000 people. Most who catch the bug have only mild symptoms and don't need medical treatment. However, there is another pandemic that is even more widespread and 100% fatal: SIN! “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The “pandemic” of sin is different than other pandemics in that the condition is not “caught” but CHOSEN. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15). Eventually, ALL people make the choice to sin, and are consequently subject to its fatal end. The Good News (the “Gospel”) is that there is a CURE! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus died on the cross paying the price for our sins (1 John 2:2) so that we might have the forgiveness of sin (Ephesians 1:7) and eternal life (Romans 6:23b). The CURE is accessed through an obedient faith. By faith, we must OBEY the Gospel by believing in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Christ before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27). The WHO has sounded the warning that swine flu is now pandemic. But GOD has warned throughout the ages of the pandemic of sin. He also wants ALL people to know of the Cure: the blood of Jesus that washes away sin (Revelation 1:5; Acts 22:16). He died so that those who submit their lives in trusting obedience to Him might live. Won’t YOU? David A. Sargent, Minister Church
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