The Cure--A story adapted from Bro. Larry Smith

It is late one night, you are watching TV wth your family when there is special bulletin from a news station. Two women are languishing in a hospital in New York from a mystery illness. You clutch your wife tight as you listen to the broadcast as more reports of people falling sick from this wasting disease come in. Soon after, the Emergency broadcast system warns everyone to stay home.......the world is at a stand-still as millions sicken and many die from this horrible malady. 

Fearful for your family, you hear the CDC instruct you to report to the hospital in your town, as a cure can be developed into a vaccine for the right blood type. Blood without the infection can be processed into a vaccine. The signal for you to report is the Tornado whistle. When the whistle sounds, you and your family report to the clinic. Blood is taken from the hundreds that show up, including blood from your family. Several minutes later a cheer erupts as donor has been found. Moments later, you and your family are ushered into the clinic. Nervously, you smile as the doctor explains, "You and your wife are infected, but Nicholas is not. He is the donor." Papers are shoved to you, and you are handed a pen. "We didn't think about it being a minor, so we need your consent."You read the document, and your eyes widen...."How much blood do you need?" The doctor solemnly speaks, "You don't understand, we didn't think it would be a child...." You blink and say, "But this will kill him! Can't you give him a transfusion?" The doctor places his hand on your shoulder, "Our blood is no good...all infected. I am so sorry, we need all of it....we...we didn't know it would be a child, we were not prepared....We are talking about the world here. Millions will die without this vaccine. I implore you...." You shakily sign the document.

The doctor leads you into the room, your son is hooked to a machine. "Would you like a few moments sir?" You look into your son's eyes. Confusion, fear abound. You hold his hand, unable to speak, as the doctor clears his throat. As you turn to leave, a tiny voice. "Daddy, why are you leaving? Are you forgetting me? Where are you?" You close your eyes and walk out and the door drowns out his calls. Weeks later, at a memorial service honoring your son, the chairs at the convention center are half empty......people are too busy......sleeping in, at the lake, working.... Wouldn't you stand and scream, "MY SON DIED FOR YOU! HOW DARE YOU!"

This story is what God has done for you.

" Matthew 27:45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life" ---John 3:16

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"--Romans 5:8