The Center for Disease Control recently reported that this year’s flu vaccine may not be strong enough to fend off the current strain of influenza that’s causing health problems this season.  CDC’s Tom Frieden said that the virus that it was designed to defeat has mutated, rendering flu shots markedly less effective.

Flu vaccines are created months in advance of flu season based on previous cases of seasonal flu.  A CDC panel chooses which strains of the flu virus to include in a given year’s vaccine, hoping to combat the strain that appears in the new flu season.  Each vaccine protects against three or four different strains of influenza.

The CDC performed a test between October 1 and November 22 of this year to see if the vaccine was protecting against current strains of the flu virus.  CNN reports that of the 85 virus samples that they collected, only 48-percent matched the flu strain that the vaccine is best equipped to combat.

It is common for flu viruses to mutate.  This makes the preparation of the proper vaccine even more difficult.  It also weakens the vaccine's ability to defeat the current strain of the virus.

Despite the recent findings, the CDC still urges that people get their flu shots.  "We are recommending strongly still that people who haven't been vaccinated get vaccinated," the CDC's Joe Bresee said to NBC.  That message goes extra for parents with children.  According to the CDC, of the 149 children that died during the 2012-2013 flu season and had flu-like symptoms, 90-percent were unvaccinated.  Lisa Thebner, a New York City pediatrician, told CNN, “the vaccine isn't perfect, but it's the best protection we have for prevention.” *

The struggle to find the right vaccine (and sometimes finding the wrong one) illustrates how the wrong remedy is often applied to man’s GREATEST and MOST FATAL condition: 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).

Many WRONG REMEDIES have been applied: ignoring one’s condition (it won’t go away), blaming others (yet the condition remains), and even trying to compensate for this “self-inflicted” malady by trying to “make up” for one’s sins by doing good works.  Yet, none of these remedies are successful in dealing with one’s condition in sin!

The ONLY REMEDY that can “heal” our sinful condition is the BLOOD OF CHRIST!

“What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”
-- Robert Lowry

The blood of Jesus was shed on the cross as payment for our sins so that we might receive the forgiveness of our sins and the GIFT of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7).  Because of His love for us, God sent Jesus into the world to provide the remedy for our sin, because no other remedy would work!

In order for the “Remedy” to be applied to our lives, we must place our faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). Then, as we can continue to walk in the light of His word, the “remedy” continues to cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

ONLY by “Jesus’ stripes” (His wounds on the cross) can we be healed (1 Peter 2:24). 

Won’t YOU turn to Him in trusting obedience so that you can be saved?