It’s been a while since this land of ours has been truly frightened of serious diseases coming our way. Influenza in one form or another comes and goes, and sometimes there is an outbreak of lesser diseases. But we treat them as annoyances and inoculate ourselves. However, the ones for which we aren’t prepared are genuine scourges.

Not that we don’t still have some that are worthy of our fear; we’ve just gotten so used to them that they don’t frighten us the way they used to. You may recall that AIDS entered our borders in the 1960s or 1970s, and it is still a scourge. There are medicines that diminish it or slow it down, but it persists with a vengeance. It is so prevalent and we are so used to it that it hardly makes a dent in the headlines, anymore.

So, we are long overdue for some dreaded ones.

Enter Ebola and Enterovirus D68, or EV-D68. These are highly infectious and deadly diseases that are rightly to be feared, and our health organizations have begun to track and to treat them (with highly questionable efficiency!) before they become hard to control.

In this regard, I am sometimes fascinated with the inconsistency in our nation in solving health issues.

Let me explain.

A good organization gets to the root of its problems in a methodical, systematic way, discovering how something became a problem and then fixing it. But at the national level, we often turn a blind eye to the seed that spawned our problems. Our social philosophy is messed up, our economy is awry, and we refuse to acknowledge the primary cause: deviation from our Constitution. At work, when we discover the root cause of an issue, we change processes and procedures and the way we think. But when we have national issues we intentionally avoid the underlying causes, and we “fix” things that don’t need fixing.

 Concerning our current epidemic threat, many of us will need a refresher course in Kindergarten 101 and improve our personal hygiene and sanitation. Closing our borders should be a given, but that would require a pavonine Mr. Obama to act responsibly. We will then invent medicines to help stop the diseases, and that is also good. But that’s where we will stop. Though good hygiene and halting contact with the infected are essential in ending and preventing many diseases, they are often not the root causes.

If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I WILL PUT NONE OF THESE DISEASES UPON THEE, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. - Exodus 15:26

If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed [children], even great plagues, and OF LONG CONTINUANCE, and sore sicknesses, and OF LONG CONTINUANCE.. Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. - Deuteronomy 28:58-61

That’s right! Disobedience to our very own Creator is the culprit behind our serious health issues. We even pass on some serious diseases to our children – before they are born. Still, we blind ourselves to the truth and go on our way, every man doing that which is “right in his own eyes.” (Two physicians, S.I. McMillen and David Stern, wrote a book years ago by the title “None of These Diseases,” which delves into this issue more deeply.)

It seems we’ve always looked for health solutions in the wrong place. Like losing a dollar on one street corner, but looking for it on another because it has better lighting.

Here’s what I mean.

In searching through some of the findings and research of the Centers for Disease Control, I found that homosexuality and intravenous drug abuse are the chief behaviors that promote the spread of HIV and, ultimately, AIDS. They knew this decades ago. Therefore, AIDS is more than just a disease; it is a symptom of something else. Yet, researchers are seeking ways to cure AIDS without addressing the behavior that sponsors it. In other words, let’s cure the symptom. I wrote the CDC for an explanation of this deviation from sound epidemiology, but received no reply. (As if I really expected one!)

Though homosexuality and drug abuse are intense behaviors that preclude good health, they are certainly not the only ones. In the 1960s, America saw the proclamation that “God is dead” and, at the same time, widespread, unbridled sex. The two are correlated. Consequently, people have been seeking the legality of certain substances, and they have already redefined marriage; and not just for homosexuals. For example, women joyously have children without a husband, and with no intention of getting one, and men and women no longer see the need for marriage in order to live together and to foster children. Adultery and divorce seem commonplace. These are sponsored in great measure by the too-rich-too-soon, hedonistic crowd in Hollywood. Furthermore, since the 1960s sexual promiscuity has run rampant and with it a number of sexually transmitted diseases; STDs are still pandemic. In addition to sexual immorality and drug abuse, scams, deceit, fraud, killings, abortions by the millions, and theft of all kinds have increased over time, and some would increase exponentially, if not held in check by the law. So, we look for the solutions to these issues on another street corner. (Such as, more condoms, more clean needles and less Christianity.)

And it isn’t just marriage that has been redefined; those who engage in sexual deviation reinvented themselves, as well. Heterophobic people, better known as homosexuals, are “same sex attracted” who use the euphemism, “gay.” And pedophiles are looking for sympathy under the guise of “minor attracted people.” Accordingly, any behavior that is contrary to our very existence can now be justified: “God made us this way.” Thus, by our own reasoning, we make God unholy and unrighteous.

The ugly truth is, we want our “sin,” but none of the bad effects – and that’s just not going to happen.

Be sure your sin will find you out. - Numbers 32:23

The flower children of the “Age of Aquarius” in the 1960s were actually seeking the death of the solution. And since they couldn’t get their hands around God’s throat, they attacked His personal warning system – that little voice that bothers us when we are about to do something wrong. People still try to destroy it or corrupt it, and not just the atheists.

Now the Spirit [of God] speaketh expressly, that IN THE LATTER TIMES some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; HAVING THEIR CONSCIENCE SEARED with a hot iron. - 1Timothy 4:1-2

And there can be no good conscience without the acknowledgement of God. The two are inherently linked. That generation thought that by cauterizing their conscience they could kill their accountability to God. And, unfortunately, that mindset did not remain stagnant. In attacking the conscience, the doctrine that mal-behaviors are “okay” spread to the podiums of our universities, to the halls of government and even to the pulpits of our congregations. Our hearts and minds forbad the acceptance of any principle or doctrine that would reign in our wayward desires and behavior.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts . For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections . And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind. - Romans 1:24-32

It is a horrifying thought that God would give us up to anything, but He does it for the rebellious and for those devoid of conscience. Still, He gives us warnings: through research and publishings of health professionals, through sound Bible preaching, and by calamities and epidemics “of long continuance.” This ought to give us a clue that our Creator is not mindful or sympathetic to any disbelief in Him. Any refusal to believe Him will not make anyone immune to accountability.

The chief cause behind our major calamities and epidemics has always been known. Preachers announced it for centuries from pulpits the world over, brave physicians shouted it aloud; even our nation’s founders warned us. But we hide from it. We run from it. If we attended to the base cause and solution of our diseases with the same passion that we ignore them, we could be disease free.

For too long, we have despised the seed cause, and the solution, to great outbreaks of diseases. The greater cure for diseases is not just better medicines, wiser hygiene, and less contact with the infected, though necessary, but a change in our moral behavior, and that requires a return to God; which is another way of saying, “repentance.” I speak of a bona fide repentance, not just individually, but nationally, that will render benefits far beyond reprieve from diseases.

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. - Psalm 9:17

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. - Psalm 33:12

If the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. - Matthew 11:23 [Christ, speaking of repentance]

If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. - Romans 10:9-11

We have refused this reasoning from God for more than half a century. How much longer will we continue? More urgently, how much longer will He hold back His dread upon our nation?

Return, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. - Jeremiah 3:12

Once again, we are in danger of serious health scourges, adding to those we already have. How will we deal with these? And, to add worry to worry, what is yet to come?

It’s going to get interesting.

Mr. Blake is degreed in Theology and in Management.