I had a brief conversation with someone in the street outside our church building today - socially-distanced of course! How strange that we have to think of being 'socially-distanced' when talking to someone outside! A year ago, such a thought would have been unheard of, but it seems that even outside, if we are not careful, it is possible to spread the coronavirus. There could be something in the air that is harmful - even deadly...

It got me thinking about the unseen influences that are upon us all the time. We read about the unpleasant and even dangerous effects of air pollution, which is so often invisible to our eyes. We are rightly concerned about such things, but what about the unseen influences of evil thinking, immoral ideas and sinful desires that are all around and are genuinely and eternally deadly to soul and body? No amount of social-distancing, or green policies, can protect us from such influences. Actually, we don't see these things as harmful at all, and see no need to be protected, whereas the Bible says we are in mortal peril because of sin - not just that which is around us in the influences of the world, but that which is within us and is the greatest peril of all. This needs thinking about seriously. As does the message of the Bible telling us that Jesus alone can save us from the great peril of sin - from ourselves even - and protect us from the evil influences of a fallen world.