Can you believe we are at 130 days of lockdown? The news article below gives some helpful reminders of good practices for one’s physical health (with my input inserted in brackets).
As the nationwide lockdown is eased, people are venturing back out to work, school and the shops. However, with the Covid-19 pandemic still raging, it is more important than ever to take precautions against spreading infection. Wear a mask, maintain social distancing and wash your hands regularly with soap. This routine reminder should have a song with the ‘Head Shoulders Knees & Toes’ melody at this point. Dr Susan Louw, a pathologist at the National Health Laboratory Service and spokesperson for Dettol, notes that “there’s a very clear link between poor hygiene and communicable diseases – disease processes such as typhoid, gastro-enteritis and the common flu, let alone Covid-19. So, if we can improve hygiene and hygiene routines in a community, we will definitely be able to impact on all communicable diseases.” When it comes to wearing a mask, there are several common mistakes that many people make, which can undermine the whole point of wearing a mask. Many have expressed concerns over people not covering their noses when wearing masks, which defeats the purpose. Others have seen people lowering their masks to speak. Again, compromising the purpose of wearing a mask. It’s perhaps necessary to remind ourselves how to wear masks correctly in order to ensure for maximum protection. Here are five tips covering the ABCs of wearing a mask: [The ABC is …] Avoid touching, wear it over the Bridge of your nose, and Cover your Chin. Get the fit right. The mask should sit on the bridge of your nose [not balanced on the tip]. It should cover your nose, mouth and extend over your chin. The mask should fit snugly, without billowing out at the sides or leaving obvious gaps. Don’t leave your nose sticking out, as you will still be able to inhale [and exhale] infectious droplets. Wash your hands. Wash your hands before putting your mask on, and again before taking it off. Use soap and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. This prevents your hands from contaminating your mask, and vice-versa. Don’t touch. Don’t touch your mask while wearing it. When removing it, use the loops to take it off, rather than touching the fabric or the front of the mask. Don’t fiddle. Don’t pull your mask down to rest on your chin or around your neck [or up onto your forehead]. You’re obviously not protected while it is in this position, and it may become contaminated. Wash your mask. And so frequently with hot water and detergent and allow it to dry completely. Don’t wear it when wet. Also, don’t wear the same mask for long periods or repeat occasions without washing it thoroughly in between, and always store it in a clean, dry place. [We purchased a packet of masks that included a note saying after using a mask, place in a ziplock bag and microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.] Stay at home … as much as possible. Finally, remember that while wearing a mask correctly can help to prevent the spread of coronavirus, it’s not a failsafe solution. It is still possible to become infected. To stay safe, avoid going out unnecessarily and try to keep a distance of at least two meters between yourself and others. And remember to get in the habit of washing your hands with soap regularly as well, as this is an important way to prevent the spread of disease.
John Phillips died in 1640. Before his death, he wrote a Christian “ABC”. It is a catechism using the complete alphabet. His ABC went like this: A = A knowledge of God in general; B = A faith in one God; C = A faith in the Trinity. Covid-19 is a killer disease … but worse than Covid-19 or any other disease that affects the body is the disease that affects the soul. This disease kills the soul … it kills the real you … and by kill, I don’t mean that you die and cease to live. By kill, I mean kill any relationship with God … kill any possibility of being with Jesus in glory. So, where the information in the article above about protecting yourself by following the ABC protocol is great … following the Biblical and Spiritual ABC protocol about a correct faith in God to prevent being killed off and landing up in eternal hell is far more important!
As I have move around, going shopping, I see many people walking without a mask or with a mask around their neck or just covering their mouth. If you are sensible, you will agree that in the face of Covid-19, the killer disease, such behaviour is reckless, inconsiderate and plain stupid. Similarly, in the face of the eternal destruction of the soul, the reckless behaviour so many people follow is madness. You see, John Phillips understood that having a right knowledge of God will lead a person to eagerly change their ways and follow Jesus as Lord. You see, the right knowledge of God understands how utterly holy God is … and anyone wanting to follow God is required to be holy! Moses writes the words of God in Leviticus:
Lev 11:44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground. 45 I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
Peter picks up and refers to this passage in 1 Peter:
1Pe 1:15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
The only way to save yourself from Covid-19 is by following the required protocol. The only way to save your soul is to be holy … and you can’t be holy without being clocked in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! You see, once you understand the Godhead correctly, you understand that because He is holy and because you are desperately sinful, you have a problem of extreme magnitude. Then, grasping the Trinity, you understand that the Holy God came to this planet on a rescue mission to save sinful people like you and me. He took on flesh and offered Himself in your place on the Cross as a sin offering for your sin. Once this gels and there is holy fear in your heart as you seek salvation, the Holy Spirit comes and releases you to live in Jesus eternally.
Dear God, thank you so much for the protocol you have put in place for me to follow for the protection and salvation of my soul for eternity. Help me to continue growing in Your love, mercy and grace. Amen.