A UNIVERSAL PANDEMIC
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
In Genesis 2:17 God clearly told Adam, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” And that word from God in this verse in the Hebrew states, “In dying thou shalt die.” Therefore Adam and Eve either walked out of that garden as dead people, or God is a liar! And we know that God is not a liar, nor can he lie! So in what way did they die?
They died by the universal pandemic of sin! It is the spiritual disease which first has spiritually killed, and then afterward has physically killed 100% of every human being ever born on planet Earth! Not one single being of the human race has ever escaped its effect. For neither you, dear Reader, nor I shall escape its power. It is an appointment we must all keep. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
And that verse is taken out of a passage (Hebrews 9:24-28), which is addressing the singular death of the Lord Jesus. For he was not offered many times as the Old Testament sacrifices. He was offered but once, having abolished death by the sacrifice of himself. Therefore, the point is that every human being, even the Son of man, has to die due to sin. And although he was sinless, he was “made to be sin for us.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
But the worst part of this pandemic is that Adam’s spiritual death brought on physical death, and that brings on eternal death! A pandemic is defined as a disease which covers a whole country, or the world. But this pandemic of sin covers the entire universe. Listen to the successive procreation and ensuing death of those born of Adam.
Genesis 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. 5:8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died. 5:11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died. 5:14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died. 5:17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died. 5:20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. 5:27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. 5:31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died. 9:29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died. Do you notice anything? Even though Methuselah lived longer than any other man, his verse ends with the same three words as all the others – “and he died.”
But the scriptures also speak of a “second death.” And this “second death,” is an eternal dying in the outer darkness, forever separated from all God’s mercies! Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
But it is the warning concerning this death, as hopefully does this article, that causes mankind to take it to heart and seek God’s remedy. Ecclesiastes 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, (as a funeral), than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
Every believer throughout all the world was before spiritually dead. They were alive physically, but spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. They required a second birth in order to avoid the second death. Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, (made spiritually alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
If a human is only born physically, he will die twice. He dies first physically; his soul being separated from his body. But then he dies eternally. Himself being separated from the eternal life that is in Christ.
This is what the Lord related to Nicodemus as recorded in John chapter three. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Therefore if the person is born once of his human parents, then born again by the Holy Spirit, he will only die once. He will eventually die physically, but then never die eternally. For the Lord has granted him eternal life through faith. John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
And in order to farther show how the present physical pandemic of COVID-19 is a picture of the universal pandemic of sin, let us review some of the words we are frequently hearing regarding our required present conduct. Here are these to list but a few. Pick up and delivery; social distancing; in house gathering; and separation from those infected.
Delivery – God has been delivering from the darkness of sin and its effects. Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 2 Timothy 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
He has delivered Himself unto us – Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? For He is our Bread – John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Delivery gone wrong – For even though the Lord has been extremely gracious and merciful, many have abused this kindness. 2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, (having sat under the anointed preaching of the gospel), and the powers of the world to come, (That is, Messiah’s gospel kingdom), 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Pick up – At no cost! Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Social Distancing – Exodus 11:7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.
Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
In-Home Gathering – Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Genesis 7:16 And they that went in, (into Noah’s ark) went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in. Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: The safety of Noah’s ark was the only provision from death in the flood waters. And Christ, our ark, is the only safety from the universal pandemic of sin! Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Separation from those infected with the virus of sin – Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. John 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
May the Lord God have mercy!
Pastor Gene Breed
April 01, 2020