Month: May 2009

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
-Proverbs 4:14-15 (NIV)

While on my honeymoon in Cancun, Mexico, an epidemic of swine flu broke out in central Mexico, and quickly spread into other countries including the United States. During our stay, all we saw on the news programs were image after image of of Mexican people running around with surgical masks on, desperate not to contract the virus.

Even though Mexico is over 750,000 square miles in size and the closest confirmed case of the outbreak was hundreds of miles from where we stayed, my wife in particular was worried about how we would be treated upon our return. Would people not want us around? Would they be afraid to hug us? Would they expect us to wear masks? Would be be allowed to go back to our jobs?

This is life or death after all, so every possible precaution has to be taken, right?

It all got me thinking: I wonder what it would be like if we, as Christians, treated sin/temptation/evil the same way we treat an infectious disease such as the swine flu?

I will not be dishonest in this business transaction… Small often leads to all.

I will not visit that website… I know I’ll see something that would cause me to lust.

I will not go to that party tonight… The temptations there will be very strong.

Are we treating the “disease” of sin the same way? Are we doing everything we can take make sure we don’t get infected? As the Proverb says, are we staying away off that road, turning from it and going in another direction?

When it it comes to obvious evil and clear temptation in our lives, we must be quick to avoid ’em like the plague… Or swine the flu.

This is life or death after all, so every possible precaution has to be taken, right?