Cold 911


The other night, the telltale soreness was in my sinuses. A cold virus was partying. Colds start there and multiply like some type of virus flash mob. Well, I called in the men in blue uniform and night sticks...or more contemporary, tasers. Raw garlic, eaten and driven into the nasal cavity. If the progression of the cold is not halted there, it travels down into the throat and lungs. No Occupy Eric.

It is incredibly harsh. Raw garlic is not to be trifled with...it burns like napalm, scorching those cold viruses in their tracks. It hurts like hell. Yet, this treatment is far from a placebo sugar pill. I know that it is effective. Typically I will still get a lite version of a cold, but one that lets me continue to go to work, taste my food, and not want to die. I believe garlic pills are useless...the very ingredients that confront the cold are the elements that get denatured by processing. No, the garlic has to be harsh, it is what makes the crucial difference.

Now, I know that it is a stretch to compare garlic to God, but they do share a quality of severity. In an age that wants to treat God as a Therapist in the Sky, the Scripture reveals a God who can be harsh in the execution of judgement upon sin. Wrath. We cannot divorce the qualities of severity from mercy, for one without the other causes both to become meaningless.  Human nature is perverse, if God didn't deliver justice we would disrespect Him because He was weak. But, He is Holy and does not tolerate rebellion against His rule. He takes people out or He takes them in. Decide which side of God you wish to engage.

Romans 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.          

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