Tomorrow evening there will be a 'Ministerial Broadcast by the Prime Minister'. Mr Johnson will address the nation about the steps, or road map, the Government is putting in place to start to relax the lockdown measures. We hope the measures will be clear and straightforward to follow, and that they will get the right balance between, on the one hand, starting the nation off on the route out of lockdown and, on the other hand, not risking the coronavirus starting to spread rapidly again... Hopefully, it will be good news - but it will certainly carry with it the warning that to disregard or flout the measures will prove costly and painful to us.

I am reminded of another 'address to the nation' - even 'nations'. In this case, it is an address to all mankind from the one who governs everything, God Himself. It is short, to the point and memorable: God 'commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31). Just as all of us are susceptible to coronavirus and no-one can safely ignore the Government's measures, so God's address to the nations is relevant to everyone and no-one can safely disregard it. It brings good news for everyone who heeds it and repents of their sin because it explains the way to salvation and life in Jesus Christ. It carries with it though the warning that to disregard it is fraught with danger because that is the way to final judgement by God and death.