The firmware of life ∙∙

The firmware of life ∙∙

If you eat its fruit [tree of the knowledge of good and evil], you are sure to die. – Genesis 2:17

John 3:14-19

14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.
16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
18 There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

The year 2020 will forever be etched in history as the year the world faced the devastating outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its sweeping impact left millions dead and countless more infected. While the exact number of cases will never be known, the scale of the pandemic was staggering. COVID-19, with its relentless mutations, is likely to linger for years, challenging global health systems long after its initial wave.

When scientists and medical professionals began to understand the virus’s behavior, they initiated an urgent race to develop a vaccine. Pharmaceutical companies around the world dove headfirst into research, pushing the boundaries of science in search of a solution. Seasoned vaccinologists initially cautioned that creating a safe and effective vaccine could take years. Yet, by late 2020, a historic breakthrough occurred—multiple companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, announced vaccines boasting an impressive 95% effectiveness.

This milestone was achieved at unprecedented speed. Leveraging cutting-edge genetic technology, Pfizer and Moderna developed their vaccines in a record-shattering 63 days—far surpassing the previous record of four years for vaccine development. Their efforts represented a technological leap forward in science. Traditionally, vaccines were made using weakened or inactivated versions of a virus or bacteria, stimulating the immune system to recognize and fight off the actual pathogen if it appeared. But this time, the approach was entirely different.

Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines relied on a revolutionary technology using messenger RNA, or mRNA—what some have fittingly called “the software of life.” This snippet of genetic material is housed in a protective bubble of fat. Naturally, in the body, DNA produces mRNA to deliver instructions to cells for creating proteins essential to life. The scientists behind these vaccines ingeniously adapted this process, using mRNA to combat the virus in a unique way.

When the coronavirus infects a person, it hijacks the body’s cells, turning them into factories to reproduce the virus and launch its devastating attack. The mRNA vaccines flipped this tactic on its head. Upon receiving the vaccine, mRNA is injected into the recipient’s upper arm, instructing their cells to produce a harmless piece of the virus—the iconic spike protein found on the coronavirus’s outer shell. While this spike protein cannot cause disease, it primes the immune system to recognize and mount a robust defense against the full virus, should it invade. This groundbreaking strategy marked a turning point in medicine, demonstrating the incredible capabilities of 21st-century science.

Yet, as extraordinary as the COVID-19 crisis and its solutions are, they serve as a metaphor for a far older and more insidious pandemic—a spiritual one that has plagued humanity for millennia. Its origins trace back to the Garden of Eden, where a deadly infection first took root. This spiritual affliction, like a virus, infiltrates hearts and minds, spreading through every generation. Its symptoms are evident in humanity’s brokenness, rebellion, and estrangement from God. If we were to name it, we might call it “Eden-19.”

However, unlike the wait for a COVID-19 vaccine, a remedy for this spiritual virus was provided centuries ago. The Father, in His infinite mercy, sent a first-century cure in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ offered a remedy that remains effective to this day. His sacrifice eradicates the spiritual infection of sin, reconciling us to God and restoring what was lost in Eden.

Just as the mRNA vaccine trains the immune system to recognize and defeat COVID-19, the gospel equips our hearts to reject sin’s destructive grip and live in the freedom and wholeness offered by Christ. The solution is here, available to all who seek it, a divine breakthrough that surpasses even the most significant achievements of human science.

Reflecting on this parallel, we’re reminded that while humanity grapples with physical and medical challenges, there is also a spiritual dimension to our struggles. Amid the trials of earthly pandemics, the ultimate cure for our souls is already within reach—a timeless gift from the Father.

REFLECT & PRAY

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10

Father, thank You for sending the Lord Jesus Christ to heal the venomous spiritual virus that altered our spiritual DNA and brought certain death to the human race. The Lord Jesus Christ is “The firmware of life.”

INSIGHT

It has been roughly 6,000 years since humanity encountered its first case of the devastating spiritual virus, Eden-19—a virus with a fatal outcome for every carrier. From its inception, Eden-19 carried a 100% death rate. The Father Himself foretold this grim reality as He warned Adam of the consequences in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:15-17 “The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the LORD God warned him, ‘You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.’”

The primary symptom of Eden-19 was immediate and undeniable—an awakened awareness of good and evil. But this was only the beginning. Soon, a host of side effects revealed itself—guilt, shame, blame-shifting, rebellion, defiance, envy, rage, and even murder. These symptoms, passed down through generations, culminate in the ultimate consequence of death.

This spiritual virus became embedded in humanity’s very nature—a mutation in our spiritual DNA. Rather than being quarantined or isolated, Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden, exiled from the paradise that the Father had created for them. They lost their perfect home and were thrust into a beautiful but corrupted world. They would now have to struggle to survive, navigating a fallen creation tainted by sin.

One of the most heartbreaking outcomes of Eden-19 was spiritual social distancing. Humanity became separated from the Father—a rift that has existed since that tragic day. Every child of Adam and Eve has been born into this state of separation, spiritually distanced from their Creator, unable to bridge the gap on their own.

But the Father, in His infinite wisdom and love, had already prepared a cure. Long before humanity needed it, the remedy was planned. It was perfect and complete, requiring no further research, no trial periods, and no adjustments. This cure, the divine antidote, would prevent eternal death for all who accepted it. Amazingly, it came in one single “dose,” sufficient to heal people across all times, nations, and generations. The supply would never run out, and its effects were instant and eternal.

The cure? The Lord Jesus Christ.

At the incarnation, Jesus became the “firmware of life,” rewriting humanity’s corrupted programming. His death on the cross, marked by the shedding of His precious and spotless blood, was the ultimate antidote to Eden-19. Anyone who receives this gift by faith is immediately and permanently healed, their spiritual DNA repaired and restored.

John 3:14-16 “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Through His sacrifice, Jesus took on the ultimate consequence of Eden-19 so that we wouldn’t have to. He bore the weight of sin and death to offer healing and restoration to all who believe.

Isaiah 53:5 reminds us, “By His stripes, we are healed.”

And in 1 Peter 1:18-23, we’re reminded of the priceless nature of this cure. “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. … For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.”

Just as a groundbreaking vaccine can save lives, the blood of Christ offers something immeasurably greater—eternal life. The spiritual DNA infected by Eden-19 is repaired as we receive the life-giving mRNA of the Savior, a spiritual transformation that restores us to our intended design as God’s children.

And what’s more, this cure isn’t reserved for the “religious,” the educated, or any specific group. It’s freely available to everyone. Jesus invites all of us—no matter our past, no matter our burdens—to come to Him for rest, renewal, and healing.

Matthew 11:28 beautifully echoes this invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

The choice is ours. The cure for Eden-19 is within reach. It requires us to acknowledge our need, reject the pride that might hold us back, and receive the gift that has been freely offered to us. The Father has provided the way back to Him. Will you accept it?

¯_(ツ)_/¯2-11-3

© Dr. H 2025