Immunity …

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”  (John 17:3, NKJV)

Some words have the ability to capture our attention immediately, while other words may take longer to do so … and the fact is, there are many words that we are so familiar with that we just pass right by them.

The word “immunity” is one of those words that we are all very familiar with!  It is in the news, on the internet and it makes its presence known daily.

So, the word “immunity” defined:

• In the medical realm it is “the ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.”
• In the legal realm it is “protection or exemption from something, especially an obligation or penalty.” (Oxford Dictionary)

There seems to be confusion, contradiction, and even a measure of uncertainty regarding the various vaccines developed to counter COVID 19 and now even more questions arise about the delta variant.

When considering a prescribed medication for any medical issue we want to know that it will provide a chance of improved health, resistance to or protection from harm, etc.

My friends, when it comes to the malady of sin which we are all guilty of (Romans 3:23) and the ultimate cost if we choose not to repent (Romans 6:23), catastrophic penalties extend throughout eternity!

Found in our text is what could be safely described as the true Lord’s prayer, and what a prayer it was … wherein He prayed for Himself, for His apostles … and for us who are “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus makes it very clear that the fundamental condition upon which a person may be saved and receive eternal life is predicated on knowing God and His Son, Jesus Christ, in much more than any casual sense!

Without God … well … there is no real meaning to our existence other than the serving of self and we will find ourselves living from day to day without hope that there is something better waiting for us that is far better than anything this world can offer!

Some may argue that if there really is a divine being … a divine Creator with unlimited intelligence, etc. … then the world we live in would not have the disorder, chaos, evil and suffering we see daily.

Still others may argue that if there really is a divine being … why is He not present and helpful when the bad things of life occur, but only there to be acknowledged when things that are good happen.

Perhaps, as God’s people, we need to be more diligent in acknowledging His presence and providence in both the good and the bad times of this life.

Jesus is affirming that our God, who is living, active, and aware of all things … does in fact, exist and is in full control!  It is not man’s place to assert that He is somehow uncaring when pain, illness, suffering occur and that He is in any way too weak to do anything about our circumstances!

When people have little or no immune system, they are easily affected when exposed to adverse conditions.  If one is to survive these challenges, the immune system is to be strengthened by medication, diet, exercise, etc.

In the very same way, our spiritual immune system, made possible by the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered on the Cross (Romans 5:6-10), needs to be strengthened daily in order to build up an immunity to sin and it’s eternal consequences.

We, you and me, we can over time experience spiritual growth and maturity (1 Peter 2:1, 2; 2 Peter 3:18) that will help us to build up a resistance to, an immunity against the enticements of this world!

Does all of this mean, then, that we will ever reach a point in life where the temptation to sin is not a problem for us?

Don’t look to Satan for that answer!  He doesn’t have the right answer!  Only the Lord, the Great Physician, does and His answer is “No!”

In this life, we will always be facing temptations, trials, challenges, and perhaps, even great hardship … but with the “wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17, 18) we will obtain the ability to discern more clearly the “… the Way, the Truth, and the Life …” found only in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

Only the Bible, God’s Book bearing God’s promises … when it is applied to our hearts … lived out in our daily conduct and lives … will provide the spiritual antibodies that are powerful enough to overcome and help keep our hearts and minds “pure in Christ Jesus” and free from the diseases (antigens) of this evil and perverse world!

We, my friends, are longing for that blessed eternal life with Him and we can and will be “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37, NKJV)

Bill Fairchild, Jr.