ONE THING
written by Nikhil Thangiah
Let me start off with a small science class. SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the pandemic, is 100 nm in diameter. It is a single-stranded RNA, whose genomic size is 30 kb. Compare this to the influenza virus, responsible for common cold and flu, whose diameter is 80-120 nm with a genomic size of 13.5 kb. To put things into perspective, these extremely small viruses that are not even closely visible to the naked eye can cause great harm! The power of one small virus: one thing!
Luke 15:4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
-----
Luke 15:8 Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?
-----
Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
The common thread in these verses is one thing/person/animal that was lost and now found. We often look at this passage and marvel at how unconditional, reckless, and relentless God’s love is that He will choose to leave the 99 and go after the 1. That is a real truth because that is who God is as Heaven rejoices over one sinner that repents!
But, God spoke something different to me through this passage. If this is the nature of God and His faithfulness, God just desires one thing from me in return: develop an intimate relationship with Him.
You see, nobody would run after the one thing that is lost unless a special bond has been created. This special bond between you and God was created even before you were formed in your mother’s womb. This special bond was reconfirmed and forever etched in history when Jesus gave His life for you and me. What kind of love is this!
It requires two to form a relationship, and God just desires one thing: you! How selfish would we be to not honour this Holy relationship! If there’s one thing that I can see from this current surge in COVID cases, it would be that God would want us to pause, reflect, take stock and ask Him for His leading right at the beginning of 2022. If 2022 has to mean something, it should mean a year of greater intimacy and fellowship with your Heavenly Father.
If the virus has such great power, imagine how your relationship with God, who has the greatest power, can help you go through 2022! It is not that you would not face trials just because you choose to deepen your relationship with God. It just means that when these trials come, you know Whom to run to and Who upholds you with His righteous right hand!
So, let me ask you: What does God mean to you? What does God’s Word mean to you? Where do you place your strength? God is knocking at the door of your heart today; would you open the door and surrender your life to Him?
