Living Abundantly in the Midst of AIDS – Sarah Adams – Aug. 13/06

Abundant life – a promise from God.

So what have you heard about AIDS?

• 25 year anniversary.
• 40 m. infected. 2.3 million children. (50% die before 2; 80% before 5)
• 3 m. deaths – 8,000/day
• 5 m. new infections – 11,000/day; 75% of new infections in Europe/Central
• Asia are in youth
• 14 m. orphans – 6,000/day
• Married vs. unmarried women – woman infected every 15 seconds
• Child-headed households
• Fields un-harvested
• Life expectancy – 10 countries below 40; Zimbabwe – 33, Zambia – 32
• Economies crumbling
• Government debt

AIDS forces us to look at underlying issues of injustice. AIDS forces us to put aside personal judgments and face suffering head on. AIDS calls us to be faithful in the face of overwhelming statistics, to be compassionate when pain and hate are all around, to be hopeful in the face of hopelessness. It calls on us to rely upon each other, to trust in the good deeds of others. To hold the hand of someone thousands of miles away whose life we may not understand – and to say “I care about you, and I’m praying for you.” AIDS calls on us to recognize that we are in a position of privilege, while others more vulnerable than us are forced to make difficult choices about their own survival from day to day.

While we need to recognize this challenge, we don’t need to fear it. Why not? Because God has made a promise. A promise of abundant life. And we can trust in the fact that God fulfills His promises.

Perdu – Chad
Sury – El Salvador
Falida – Uganda
Ezekiel – Nigeria

These are people living abundantly, even as they live with AIDS.

It’s exciting to be here this week. Because as a community – especially as a community this week in this city – you have not shied away from this issue. You’ve lobbied your government so that people in Africa can have easier access to life prolonging drugs. You’ve volunteered your time so that a child that has been orphaned by AIDS might have the chance to go to school. You’ve put together kits so that a person whose immune system has been weakened by AIDS can live more comfortably. You’ve prayed for a sick mother you haven’t met who’s being cared for by her young daughter. 

You are keeping God’s promise. You are helping people live abundant lives. In keeping God’s promise, you’ve shown Christ’s love to others around the world who are now able to live longer, to live better, and to show Christ’s love to even more people.

Of course, I don’t want to paint an unrealistic picture. Examples of abundance are few in the face of this overwhelming disease. This problem is big. It’s too big for us. But it’s not too big for God. Think of the tools he has already given us. We’ve learned how the virus is spread. We’ve learned what we have to do to prevent further transmission. We’ve learned how to make medications that can prolong life for many years. Progress has been made. New infections have been prevented. Hundreds of thousands of sick people have gotten better. The issue is being talked about in churches, businesses, and government halls like it never was before. 28,000 people are gathering here in this city this week to let the world know they’re committed to ending this disease.

Christ came that we would all have life, and have it abundantly. He didn’t come just for the rich, or the powerful, or the healthy. He came to bring abundance to the poor, the powerless, and the sick. In the face of a devastating disease, God is bringing abundance in a situation that once seemed hopeless. He’s bringing compassionate care, He’s bringing understanding and tolerance, He’s bringing healing and life.

God is keeping his promise. Maybe you’ve made your own promise.
Continue to keep whatever promise you’ve made in the face of this disease. But more than that, remember that as the body of Christ, we have the chance to fulfill those promises which God has made. The promise of abundant life is a joyful promise. What a privilege to work alongside God to keep this promise. What an opportunity for abundance in our own lives.

Closing from Canon Gideon…

May God protect you, equip you, empower you, and give you everything you will need to do His work.