INFLUENZA and INFLUENCE

INFLUENZA and INFLUENCE

While the coal smoke and the war in Europe no doubt cast
a pall, a still more ominous cloud loomed near, for 1918
was to be a time of plague in Berkeley and around the
world, the year of the so-called Spanish influenza.

A flu epidemic had emerged there in January 1918 that
was like nothing ever seen before. Author John M. Barry
wrote, “the strongest, the healthiest, the most robust
people in the county—were being struck down as suddenly
as if they had been shot. 

In fact it was one of the worst pandemics in modern
history, killing more people in 24 weeks than AIDs would
in 24 years. It infected one-third of the world’s population,
and global death toll estimates range from 50 to 100
million. In the U.S., the flu cut the average lifespan by 12
years, from 51 to 39.

Most died of pneumonia, a bacterial infection that attacked
flu-stricken lungs, but the flu itself could kill outright as well
—and quickly, often just a few days after the onset of
symptoms. These included the usual—cough, fever,
headaches—but also severe hemorrhaging. Patients often
bled from their ears and nose. Their lungs filled with a
bloody froth and their skin changed color as oxygen failed
to circulate through their airways. Some called it the blue
death or the purple plague.

The flu killed both high and low, young and old. It killed
migratory workers in their camps and soldiers in the
trenches. It swept immigrant communities and elite college
campuses. It killed the painters Egon Schiele and Gustav
Klimt. It took the life of George Freeth, the father of modern
surfing. It killed the president of Brazil, the prince of Sweden,
and the queen dowager of Tonga. It killed Frederick Trump,
Donald Trump’s grandfather, and Phoebe Hearst, the great
patroness of the University of California.

Anne Porter’s beautiful, fugue-like novella Pale Horse, Pale
Rider. “It’s as bad as anything can be,” a soldier in that story
says of the flu. “All the theaters and nearly all the shops and
restaurants are closed, and the streets have been full of
funerals all day and ambulances all night.” Porter’s title
comes from a passage in the Book of Revelation about the
fourth horseman of the Apocalypse. “And I looked, and
behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was
Death….”

Such statistics only serve to obscure the true depth of the
tragedy, however, as some individuals must have
experienced the epidemic as a kind of personal
Armageddon.

Stone wrote to her daughters, “I always think of a song
Ferris Hartman used to sing, ‘I had a little bird whose
name was Enza, I opened the door and InfluEnza [sic]’!
and wish he had not opened the door!!’” The grim little ditty
was apparently making the rounds. Like “Ring Around the
Rosie,” children chanted it as they skipped rope.

By April the disease was gone. As with the war, the curse
had somehow lifted. Out flew Enza.

Under an electron microscope flu viruses are revealed to be
generally spherical in shape. The virions, as virus particles
outside a cell are called, consist of a nucleic acid core
enclosed in a protein coat that is spiked with glycoproteins
—specifically, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. These are
the familiar H and N used to describe the various subtypes
of flu. (Today we know that the 1918 flu was of the
type H1N1.) These proteins are often described as the keys
that allow the virus to, first, penetrate the cells, and later,
to make their escape. One key to get in, another to get out.
While inside, the invaders hijack the cell’s machinery to
replicate themselves, creating a whole army of viruses to
attack us.

Thankfully, our cells are not defenseless. In fact, a battle is
constantly being fought between our immune systems and
the invading pathogens.

The enemy of our soul, the devil, is like the enemy of our body,
the virus. He comes in through subtle deceptive ways.

The devil got access into Eve and Adam’s lives through
deception like sweet Enza.

That turned the heart of man from GOD and caused spiritual
death to the human race.

GOD has given us a remedy through the LORD JESUS, Whose
blood cleanses us from sin and revives us again. Unlike Enza, the
LORD knocks on the door of our heart and gives us the choice to
open.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the
sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same
is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the
shepherd of the sheep.

John 10:1-2

 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it
more abundantly.

John 10:10

 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and
he with Me.

Revelation 3:20

As I am writing this blog, World health authorities are expecting the corona viral infection to become pandemic! Most people are fearful and many are in panic. The physical consequence is sickness and if severe, physical death. 

There is however a greater and more serious situation in the spiritual realm. The corona virus resembles a crown under the electron microscope. Spiritually, crown depicts the mind. There are many spiritually deceptive teachings spreading across the world, bringing confusion into the mind of Christians and non Christians. Like the virus, those who are deceived, become carriers, exposing others to the demonic teachings. They are speaking and writing words that are false. They perform great signs and wonders, causing people to believe in them. They cause our ears to hear and eyes to see falsehood. People get lured into the path of unrighteousness. Those who get infected by the demonic stronghold become spiritually sick and if not set free, succumb to eternal death! 

 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. 

Matthew 24:24-25

 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
2 Peter 2:1-3 

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
2 Peter 3:1-3 

GOD'S love is the essence of the the Gospel of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

The essence of the false teachings which are infused in subtle ways is the lust of the world. This is a competitor to GOD'S love and hinders us from receiving GOD'S pure love into our hearts.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17 

 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 

Let us be diligent to keep our spiritual health by feeding well on the word of GOD and breathing the pure air of prayer, being in communion with the Holy Spirit. Let us be hygienic and not allow our mind to get corrupted by lust which is promoted in subtle ways by the false teachers. Let our minds be washed clean by the washing of water by the word of GOD. Let us also take every opportunity to expose the false teachings and pray and intercede for each other to be kept by the power of GOD through His grace.

Knowing the Truth, receiving the Truth and following the Truth is the only way out of this deceptive destruction. The LORD JESUS is the Truth.

We need to be careful not to catch the virus and not to pass on any virus that we may be carrying, to others. We need to be even more diligent not to be influenced by false teachings but rather influence others to walk the path of righteousness and point others to the Savior and LORD JESUS through our lives and words.

 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
John 8:12,32,35-36