© 2014 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Ebola is striking fear into the hearts of many as I write this. Other diseases have also brought fear to men’s hearts in years gone by. Words such as “Aids,” “Polio,” “Plague,” and “TB” have each contributed their own share of misery to the human race.

Scripture speaks of a time when God, Himself, shall send diseases upon the earth as judgment for man’s wickedness. Jesus used the word “pestilences” in referring to them.

“Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” (Luke 21:10-11)

I do not know exactly where we are in God’s prophesy-timeline, but I do know that Jesus said these pestilences would be released on the earth prior to the time when men “… see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:17). Is Ebola one of these pestilences? Perhaps it is, or perhaps it is only a foreshadowing of them.

As humans, we tend to think spiritual things are shadows, and physical things are solid reality. In contrast to this, God, throughout Scripture, uses temporary physical things to explain permanent spiritual realities. These temporary physical things are pictures to help us visualize the spiritual realm. In the physical realm, Ebola causes physical death. In doing so, it helps us understand the spiritual realm in which sin causes eternal spiritual death.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

As of this writing, there is no proven cure for Ebola, but there is a cure for sin! God the Son came to die and shed His blood on the cross of Calvary as a redeeming sacrifice to pay the sin penalty for His people. He will spiritually heal all who turn from their sin and ask Him to save them (Isaiah 53:5, Matthew 11:28, John 3:16, John 6:37).

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

Could you be one that eventually dies of Ebola? When you die, will your burden of sin usher you into eternal death?

 

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