Pandemic Tip #6

March 26, 2020

Kicking around the internet, I found a new website that I really like. I like it because it gives numbers and statistics to all sorts of things. It's called “worldometer.” Before I go any further, when I mention a website or source, or movie, or book, etc… I am not necessarily endorsing it.

According to worldometer the current world population is a little over 7.7 Billion people with around 237k (at the moment of my writing this) births… today. Yes, that is JUST today.

Infants need care. They need food, they need moved, and they need loved. Much like what the Bible does for us. Reading 1 Peter 2:2 – 3, we find, “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” [NLT]

This is contrasted with verse one, “So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.” [NLT] Wow… that’s a laundry list of political behavior. It’s also a candid list of what we were born to do because that is what we are… Theologically we call this the “sinful nature.” That means we are born with the natural pull to commit sin. It also means that when we sin by doing something we are told by God that leads to death (or not doing something we are told by God that leads to life) we are acting according to our base sinful nature.

However, when we are “born again” (as Jesus painted it). We start a new life as “newborn babies” as Peter tells us. To grow we need food, we need to be moved forward, and we need loved. Where does that come from? I am so glad you asked!

The “spiritual milk” the will nourish us so we grow into a “full experience of salvation” is the Bible. The reality is there are people who START as spiritual newborn babies and END that way. My suspicion is that is a shame. Imagine all the wasted potential of people who refuse to grow up. Peter Pan anyone? And they wonder why there is no real joy or peace. Instead of peace there is panic. They do not fulfill their purpose or function on this earth. (The meaning of the Greek word "teleos," often translated "perfect" is closer to the modern English idea of fulfilling purpose or function.)

My suspicion is that your reaction to this pandemic, peace or panic, is conditioned on whether or not you have craved “pure spiritual milk.” If you have tasted the “Lord’s kindness” (or goodness) then I doubt much will disturb your balance in times like these. So take time today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life to deliberately study the Bible… to deliberately grow up (be moved)… to deliberately enjoy the “full experience of salvation.” (be loved)