Today Ron and I were going through an old scrapbook, reflecting on simpler times and came across our 1998 Christmas letter where I had included some thoughts from a recent sermon. Reading it 32 years later, goosebumps rose on my arms. Here's why:

It was 1998 and our pastor asked us to imagine ourselves in the following fictional scenario:

On the news there was a short piece on an outbreak in Africa that had killed an entire village of 30 people. By the end of the week, this outbreak is reported in other parts of Africa, the total dead is over 400. No one has ever seen this form of virus therefore medical teams and scientists are being sent to study and try to eradicate it. On Sunday night you turn on the news just to see if there is any new information. By now, every major news stations is covering this epidemic. The virus is spreading across Africa, killing thousands. In Europe, all borders have been shut, not allowing anyone in. But it's too late. Dozens are already in the hospital. The virus acts the same each time: People are infected about a week before they get sick, then they are violently ill for 4 days, then they die. Researchers from all over the world are getting involved as they try to find a cure.

By Friday President Clinton has appealed to the nation. He reports that over a hundred thousand are now dead in Africa and Europe. Dozens of Americans have been hospitalized with the disease. President Clinton has issued an order to quarantine the country. No one is allowed in or out of the US until a cure is found. Any relatives or friends outside the country cannot come back. Widespread panic is occurring as people realize the seriousness of the situation. There is hope though. Researchers think they can make a vaccine if a specific blood match can be found. The President asks all people to report to the hospital to have their blood drawn in order to find a match. We are to go to the hospital when we hear the emergency broadcast system in our neighborhood.

Soon afterwards, you hear the alarm and report to the hospital where blood is drawn from every member of your family. Outside the hospital, you and your family stand waiting for the results along with hundreds of others. Suddenly a doctor bursts through the door and calls out a name. It is your son's who tugs on your arm. "Mommy, Daddy, that's me." Immediately the doctor calls your son forward and rushes him into the hospital. You are close behind. There is great excitement in the crowd as they realize a match has been found. A cure is possible.

The doctor is somber as he explains the process. "We will need to draw blood from your son so we can begin developing the vaccine. "How much will you need," you ask. The doctor looks away, clears his throat and then states, "We had no idea it would be a little one. We didn't expect this." He pauses then adds, "We'll need all of it."

You're stunned. "What about a transfusion?" The doctor struggles to speak, "The blood must be pure and this is the only match we've found. We must begin this process immediately. People are dying as we speak." You cling to your son as you try to explain that there is no other choice. Then you're escorted out of the room as you're overtaken by grief and shock. Outside the crowds are jubilant. They cheer as you emerge from the hospital. They have no idea the price you and your son had to pay.

Sitting on the couch with my husband, rereading this was nothing short of surreal. Here we are today, not with a fictional virus but with the Coronvirus. We no longer have to imagine this. We are living with this pandemic and understand the urgency to find a vaccine. Every horror of this scenario is real...right up until the part about giving up your child in order to save the world. THAT...we can't imagine.

And yet, there is one who has done that. And He did it because of another virus we all have. It's called sin. Just like the above scenario, the cure is only through the pure blood of one--Jesus Christ. Nothing else can save us--no church, no religion, no ritual, not even a lifetime of kind deeds. Without Jesus, there is no hope of surviving. But the cure has already been found. He has already given up his blood. We have hope. All we have to do is accept the sacrifice and choose to honor him as our only true Savior. If you've never done that, please don't wait because just like with our current Coronavirus, we all need a cure...before it is too late.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17