LightGrams
December 17, 2020
Volume 24, Number 46
Sunday, December 13, 2020 was a long-anticipated day. Truckloads of COVID-19 vaccines rolled out of the Pfizer plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, headed for various destinations throughout the country. Overseeing the transport of these cases of vials were agents of the U.S. Marshals Service. It’s not hard to imagine how valuable these doses can be if they fall into the wrong hands.
Other means of security have been put in place as this vaccine is being shipped. Tracking devices are installed in all shipping containers used by FedEx and UPS. Wes Wheeler, president of UPS Health Services, stated, “In terms of security we have eyes on these packages the whole way through … We can see them anytime, anywhere within 10 feet.” On the receiving end of the shipments the vaccines will only be released to approved persons who have government IDs.
Two years from now we suspect there will be little attention paid to the shipment of this vaccine. What would be the difference? Right now these vaccines are our hope of putting an end to this pandemic; they are extremely valuable. In the future they will likely become as common as any of the other flu vaccines we routinely receive.
You might say that these doses of vaccine are “vials of life”. Receiving this protection will, for some, be the difference between life and death.
Envision now truckloads of vials streaming from heaven. The cargo on these trucks is not a vaccine for human illnesses, but for sin. Peter provides the basis for this image: “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18,19).
The blood of Christ should be “precious” to us. It was shed long ago in Jerusalem when Jesus was unjustly condemned and executed. He was the Lamb who had no blemishes or spots, i.e. He was without sin. The only person to live to maturity with no sins on His account, He willingly gave His blood so we might be cleansed of the lethal effects of our sins (see 1 John 1:7).
Sadly, many refuse to acknowledge these vials of life offered to them by heaven. “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29).
God so loved the world that He gave His Son (John 3:16). It was a true sacrifice for Jesus to walk the path to Calvary. Let us be careful to never consider His blood “a common thing”. His blood represents life!
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.
~~~~~
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.
Permission to reproduce and/or use the messages for noncommercial purposes is freely granted provided the messages are not altered.