Practice Enhanced Precautions

Mosquitoes are at it again, carrying yet another virus.  This time it's the Zika virus.  The CDC has issued a travel alert to US citizens traveling out of the country to areas where the virus has been widely reported, including some countries in the Caribbean.  This is of particular interest to me since two of the three countries we will visit next week are on that list.

The travel alert does not prohibit our travel to those countries. It does urge us to "practice enhanced precautions."  Such precautions are pretty much common sense things, much like being told not to drink the water in certain areas of the world.  Wear light colored clothing, stay in air-conditioned areas, use insect repellant on your skin and clothing.  Things like that.

Since I'm a mosquito-magnet, I'm prepared with light colored clothing and plenty of insect repellant. We have not changed our travel plans, but are following the advice to "practice enhanced precautions."  I'm not afraid of some mosquitoes.  Cautious, yes.  But not afraid.

"Practice enhanced precautions."  That's good advice, isn't it?  Not only for travel to the Caribbean, but for life in general.  It's why we look both ways before we cross the street.  And why we don't go alone into high-crime areas after dark (or even in the daylight!).  It's the reason we don't eat foods we know we are allergic to.

"Practicing enhanced precautions" is really part of daily life.   This should be our habit of life in all aspects. 

When we are deciding what to eat or where to go or when to cross the street.

When we are choosing what music to listen to and what books to read and which shows to watch.

When we are determining who we will spend our time with and who our friends are.

When we choose how we will spend our time.

When we are making decisions about which candidate will have our vote.

I may have received an alert from the CDC to "practice enhanced precautions" as concerns my travel to the Caribbean, but I have already received similar warnings about how to live life:

"Then Jesus said to them, 'Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed.'" (Luke 12:15 NASB, emphasis mine)

"You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness."  (2 Peter 3:17 NASB, emphasis mine)

"Little children, guard yourselves from idols."  (1 John 5:21 NASB, emphasis mine)

"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming."  (Matthew 24:42 NASB, emphasis mine)

"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." (1 Cor. 16:13 NASB, emphasis mine)

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert, for your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."  (1 Peter 5:8, emphasis mine)

I could go on, but I think you get the point.  You might want to get your concordance and look for more of these warnings.  The point is that the instruction to "practice enhanced precautions" is not a new one, but has been a part of Scripture for centuries. 

Yes, I need to be careful next week as we are traveling.  Yes, I need to "practice enhanced precautions" and use good sense when dealing with this mosquito threat.  But how much more do you and I need to "practice enhanced precautions" in every aspect of daily living!

These mosquitoes are a threat to our physical health.  But a far greater threat comes from the enemy of our souls.

Practice enhanced precautions!

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." 
(Ephesians 6:12 NASB)