Don’t Touch!

LightGrams
July 9, 2020
Volume 24, Number 23

The extraordinary times in which we’re living have called for extraordinary measures. Due to the highly contagious nature of the COVID-19 virus we’ve been told to wash our hands often, keep our distance from one another, wear a face covering when out among people, and stay at home as much as possible. The guideline we find most challenging, however, may be the admonition to refrain from touching our faces.

Max Melia of Bristol, England is ready to help us with that challenge. This 15-year-old inventor developed a watch two years ago that vibrates when the wearer’s hand moves up toward the face. It’s a reminder not to go there since viruses find our mouths, noses, and eyes easy gateways into our bodies. Max developed the watch to help people during the normal flu seasons, but now the need is especially great.

Max’s efforts intensified after both of his parents contracted the coronavirus. He hopes to have the Vybpro in full production soon; it will sell for $111, the UPI story states.

Hands need to be diligently monitored during times of contagious viruses. But Jesus also talked about the need to control our hands: “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell” (Matthew 5:30).

My personal interpretation of that passage is that Jesus was using hyperbole to make His point, not that He actually intends for us to cut off our hands or pluck out our eyes (verse 29). But why use such graphic images? Because the topic under discussion – the lust of the heart – has serious ramifications. The COVID-19 virus can cause critical illness and even death, but sin can lead to eternal death.

If hands can cause us to sin, wouldn’t it be helpful if God had equipped us with some kind of warning system to stop us? Like the vibrating watch that Max Melia has invented, such a system would remind us to stop before going any further.

Paul wrote about a system that does just that – we call it the conscience. “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). The conscience “vibrates” within us when we come close to something we know is wrong. If we’re wise, we pay attention to the warning.

Not everyone does pay attention, however: “… having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck” (1 Timothy 1:19). Paul then named two such individuals who had allowed sin to infect their hearts.

“Don’t touch!” is often very good advice. When our natural impulses yearn to touch, we should heed the alarms. God designed this warning system to protect us.

Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

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Copyright, 2020, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).

“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.

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