October 10, 2014 (Friday)
The death of an Ebola patient in Dallas is slightly personal for me because the hospital in which he died is located just a few blocks from Vickery Baptist Church, where I was the pastor from April 1961 to November 1964.
The community is so different from what it was when I was there that there is no comparison between then and now. Those familiar with Dallas through the years know that Greenville Avenue used to be Highway 75, and as you drove north from Dallas, you passed through little towns: Vickery, Richardson, Plano, etc. The little town of Vickery saw little residential development because the owners of area land would not sell to developers. Growth, therefore, skipped Vickery and went to Richardson, Plano and all the towns up the road instead. In the 50 years since I lived there, the situation changed and the entire area that used to be vacant land is now covered with thousands of homes, office towers and commercial developments.
The hospital is located on Walnut Hill Lane, where some of my church members lived at the time. So when I began hearing of the contact with an Ebola patient, even though there is no logical reason for me to feel involved, I felt that way just the same.
The fact is, I am involved. And so are you. Most of us are well aware that we are dealing with a virus that is destined to cause much more havoc and death in the days ahead. Let us pray that it does not happen. We are involved in the problem because of the nature of viruses and the lingering possibility that this one may spread here in this country. Again, let us pray that this does not take place.
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
There is a disease that has already infected everyone in the world. It is the disease called sin. Jesus said this of that plague: “They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” He was talking about us. A grand old hymn tells us, “The Great Physician now is here, the sympathizing Jesus.” He heals us of the most devastating illness that exists: sin. It is fatal. But Jesus heals us and gives us a second chance at life. Praise Him.
