DAVID COLTON, Waynesboro Published 1:12 a.m. ET Aug. 7, 2020

Imagine a great nation that has lost its moral direction. God in his wisdom decides to test the people of this nation to see if they are worthy of his love. He brings forth a plague which they can survive if they follow just one of his commandments The Golden Rule: All things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them. (Matthew 7:12)

In other words, people can be selfish and think only of themselves, but if they do, they will spread the plague to others (i.e. not follow CDC guidelines for wearing a mask and social distancing) or they can do the right thing to reduce spread of the plague.

However, Satan, seeing an opportunity to disrupt Gods plan, decides to complicate things. Being a sly, cunning, devious, manipulative, lying conman, Satan selects a mortal with similar attributes to convince the people not to follow The Golden Rule. This person is the nations leader and he uses his position to sway the people and lies to them about how bad the plague really is.

Satan, of course, is overjoyed. Not only are many of the nations people ignoring Gods commandment, in rebuffing Gods love and guidance, they are rejecting their own salvation.

As a consequence of their actions, the nation suffers. The nation has the largest number of cases of the plague and the highest mortality rate in the world. Many people die and many people lose their jobs and their homes.

The great nation is no longer great in the eyes of the world. Satan delights in his triumph and the nations leader plays golf. And the nations leader continues to do Satans work by dividing the people of the country, one against another, as well asdividing his followers from their love of God.

Fortunately, the story is not over. God gave the people the ability to choose right from wrong. They can continue to follow Satans servant and believe his lies, or they can listen to the prophets (medical experts) and do things for the benefit of their fellow man.

DAVID COLTON

Waynesboro

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In the time of plague, a devil is testing America: Letter - The News Leader