Blighted

Tomato blight is not a pretty sight. Nor is potato blight. This summer's damp and cool weather has encouraged the growth of this destructive disease, and many gardeners are seeing the sad results. Instead of healthy produce enjoyed by their growers, food is ruined and efforts wasted.
Hearing the news, it is clear that not only tomatoes and potatoes are blighted. The economy and global politics seem very sick. Indications that our own security services, put up to it by our own government, have been complicit in torture and turning a blind eye to the appalling tyranny of assorted oil rich states makes the carry on at News International look mild.
It is startling to recall that the New Testament was written in similar times, with tyrants and oppressions around many corners.
After Jesus had raised Lazarus from death, with eager crowds around him, the forces of authority and government were plotting his death. The views of the leaders were confused. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”
  Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” (John 11.47-50)
The great irony was that the death of Jesus, while the product of deadly political and religious blight, was God's way of providing deliverance for those who turn to Him.
In the midst of a blighted world, we can rejoice that in Jesus we know the One who alone can rescue and restore us. What good news that is!
Best wishes,
Richard