As the current pandemic of the past two years looks like it’s ebbing to an actual end, my deepest desire and most passionate prayer would be for the masses here in the U.S. and around the globe to realize that even far, far, far, far, far, far more deadly and long-lasting than COVID is the still-spreading spiritual virus of sin.

Its consequences are far greater, entailing not just physical but also spiritual death.

• “For the wages of sin is death [spiritual and physical] …” (Romans 6:23)

Its reach is far greater, leaving exactly ZERO people untouched.

• “For all have sinned…” (Romans 3:23)

That’s quite a combination already… but there’s more!  Because…

Its longevity is far greater – no less than eternity itself.  Forever and ever.

• “… the lake of fire [i.e., hell] … and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)
• “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever…” (Revelation 14:11)
• “These [i.e., unbelievers] will pay the penalty of eternal destruction…” (2 Thessalonians 1:9)
• “These [i.e., unbelievers] will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous [i.e., believers, those who have had their sins exchanged for the righteousness of God in Christ, per 2 Corinthians 5:21] into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)

I saved that one for last because the second half includes the hope of God’s good grace and gift of the gospel.  Trust me when I tell you that knowing where one will spend eternity in the life to come makes this  current, temporary life far more joyful and fun.

But may we not stop there, with ourselves, but also share it with as many people as possible, as we have opportunity, while we still have time for them to likewise be saved.

I say while we still have time because I’m sure I’m not alone in seeing what a super-small step it would be from where we went, what we witnessed during the pandemic to the events noted in the Bible about the end times, the final day.

May each of us prepare  each day for that  day.

Because as Paul poignantly penned in Romans 13:11, “for now salvation is nearer to us than when we [first] believed.”

And that clock continues to tick.

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