And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11

Please note: This devotion was written while Thomas Eric Duncan was still alive. Since that time he has died, and a healthcare worker who tended to him has contracted the Ebola virus.

Twenty-seven miles from where I live, Thomas Eric Duncan is in the hospital.

Thomas Eric Duncan is in the hospital because he is the first person in the U.S. who has been diagnosed with Ebola, one of the nastiest and most frightening viruses to come down the pike. To combat any fear of panic, the Dallas County Health and Human Services director has assured the public: "It is contained. There is no outbreak. And so therefore everyone should ease their fears and allow public health officials ... to respond to this issue."

Well, everyone hopes the virus is contained, but most folks haven't had their fears eased.

* People are still fearful because Mr. Duncan apparently got into this country because he told Liberian officials he had no contact with people who had Ebola. He lied.

* People are fearful because when Mr. Duncan first went to the hospital, he was questioned and released even though he had said he was a Liberian citizen.

* People are fearful because the official statements concerning the number of people who were exposed keeps changing ... and keeps getting larger.

* People are fearful because Mr. Duncan got sick in the parking lot of the apartment where he was staying, and nobody knows how many folks went through that parking lot.

In spite of official statements about how we can be at ease, the truth is this: in Mr. Duncan's case, just about every time the ball could have been dropped it was dropped, and only the Lord knows what the outcome will be.

That being said, I wonder what it would be worth to the world if some clinic announced it had developed an absolutely fool-proof medicine that would instantly cure anybody who has Ebola? I wonder how appreciative people would be if someone would voluntarily underwrite the cost of the cure so it could be free to everyone? Finally, I wonder how committed people would be in making sure the cure became available to everyone as soon as possible?

The answers to those questions are obvious. What may not be as obvious is this: there is an illness in this world called sin, and it is 100 percent fatal. In the shed blood of the Savior a cure was found for this disease of the soul, and it is 100 percent effective. When the Holy Spirit brings people to faith in the Savior, they are instantly made well and they shall live forever.

The illness is there; the cure is there; all that is left is for the cure to be distributed. I know a cure for Ebola would be a high priority. God grant the same may be said as we bring Christ to the nations and our neighbor.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive us for underestimating the destruction of sin and the lengths You went to cure us of it. Now may we who have been cured be committed to sharing that cure with the lost of the world. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 33-34    Acts 23:16-35

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