By Dave Eden, Eden Political Cartoons
“Social Distancing” is the new phrase for describing our need to keep our distance from others during a dangerous pandemic. The Bible refers to another form of social distancing in James 4:7-8, which reads: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners: and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
The late radio Bible commentator, J. Vernon McGee, once said: “It is said one time Martin Luther threw an inkwell at the devil. Somebody might say that was a crazy thing to do, but it is not if you are resisting the devil. James says the way to resist the devil is to draw near to God. The devil will flee from you, because he doesn’t like God for company. The devil will not get to you unless you get too far away from God. A wolf never attacks a sheep as it is with the rest of the sheep and with the shepherd. And the closer the sheep is to the shepherd, the safer it is. Our problem is that we get too far from God.”
God’s plan for social distancing helps us to avoid sin. If you want to stay spiritually healthy, distance yourself from sin and its devilish influences and draw near to God.
-Dr. Mark H. Creech