Infected with a Virus

Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)



Several years ago I received an email from my sister. I eagerly opened it expecting a message or even just a “hello” from her. When I tried to open the email, the message said there was an attachment from ebooks pdf. I clicked on the attachment to open it thinking she must have sent some pictures. After a minute or so a message came up saying This attachment is infected with a virus which Norton (my anti-virus software at the time) is unable to clean up. Windows is unable to open it. Wow!! I was so relieved to have had good virus protection.


If you have ever opened an email infected with a virus you know how difficult it is to fix things again. It can destroy your computer and damage files beyond repair.


A computer virus is a bad thing.


Sin is a virus also. The Psalmist tells us we are conceived and born in sin. We inherited our sinful nature from our parents, who inherited it from theirs and all the way back down to Adam and Eve. If sin is allowed to go unchecked it destroys people. It destroys families and hurts anyone who comes into contact with it.


So what are we to do? How do we get rid of it since we have inherited it from our parents and ancestors? Where do we turn for help? The answer to the problem is simple and quite easy to solve. We go to the foot of the cross – to Jesus, the innocent Son of God.


He lived a perfect life in our place. He suffered the punishment we deserve for our sin. He conquered death and the devil when He rose on Easter Sunday. His blood makes us pure and holy so that we now meet the strict standards God requires of us. We are still sinners and we need to go to God daily with a repentant heart, but we are free from the weight of that sin and its destruction and able to serve the Lord without fear. Death and the grave hold no power over us.


Yes, the sin virus is a very devastating disease, but thanks to Jesus and His Grace, we are free.


The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Corinthians 15:57)