Fatal Exposure

The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okumamachi, Japan, continues to be the focus of great concern after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurred on March 11.  Oren Dorrel of USA Today explains the effects to the plant which pose dangers to others: “The earthquake knocked out electricity to the plant, which houses six nuclear reactors, and its cooling system. 

The tsunami that followed wiped out diesel generators that provided backup power to the systems.  Without electricity to operate pumps that keep water flowing over the nuclear fuel, water in the reactor cores and spent fuel pools boiled away, exposing the fuel, which melted and caught fire.  That caused hydrogen explosions and released radiation, which has shown up in drinking water, food and industrial goods exported to other countries.”  Radiation can cause illness and even death in the event of overexposure.

Ever since the destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunami, brave plant workers, subcontractors, defense troops, and firefighters have risked their lives
hooking up new power lines and getting water to the reactor cores to try to cool them.  These workers have become heroes to many in Japan and throughout the world.

“Anybody that voluntarily enters a situation that puts [his life] on the line can be
called a hero, and those workers certainly meet that definition,” says David Lochbaum, director of the nuclear safety project for the Union of Concerned Scientists.

One reason that these workers are at risk is due to possible radiation exposure. 
They wear protective clothing and radiation meters to prevent overexposure, but the threat remains very real.

The actions of these heroes remind us of Another who risked and gave
His life to save the lives of others…

About two thousand years ago the Son of the living God walked directly into SIN’s most concentrated radiation, allowed Himself to be touched by its curse, and let it take His life.  But by that act, He broke the power of sin.

On the cross, “He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to BE SIN for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).  His atoning sacrifice is the means by which we may be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).  “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness” and “by His wounds,” we may be healed (1 Peter 2:24).  He died for us so that we might live.

Although we have been separated from God due to our sin (Romans 3:23), through Christ we may be reconciled to God when we accept His offer of salvation on His terms!

We can accept His offer of salvation by placing our faith and trust in Christ (Acts 16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) into Christ so that our sins may be washed away (Acts 2:38: 22:16).

Sin’s “radiation” places us in danger of the “second death” (Revelation 21:8).  But through Jesus, we can be made whole and have eternal life (Rom 6:23).

Won’t YOU accept His offer on His terms?

David A. Sargent, Minister