It is estimated that between 650,000 and 900,000 people are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in the United States (Center for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov).
Approximately 5 million people were infected with HIV worldwide in 2003 (World Health Organization, www.who.int/en).
AIDS took 3 million lives worldwide in 2003 (Ibid).
Three million lives—that’s 1,000 times the number of people who died in the United States on September 11, 2001. The limitations of the human mind make it difficult, if not impossible, to even fathom a number that high.
But these are not just numbers. They’re people. And they’re dying from a highly contagious, highly dangerous disease that in some parts of the world has become an epidemic.
If you or someone you love are one of the millions who suffer from HIV or AIDS, you may scoff at the idea of there being any hope. There are new treatments that can allow HIV patients to live longer, healthier lives than 20 years ago, but there is still no known cure. Receiving a diagnosis of being HIV positive can feel like a death sentence. So where is the hope in this seemingly hopeless disease?
The truth is, we are all going to die someday. AIDS is just one of the countless ways in which that can happen. If you suffer from HIV or AIDS, however, you will probably have to face that reality sooner than most people. Are you prepared? Have you thought about where you will go, if anywhere, after you die?
Even if you haven’t thought about it, God has. He created us knowing that we would not live on this earth forever. The human body is well designed, but was not meant to last indefinitely. God also knew that we humans make mistakes. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Our sin separates us from Him, so He prepared a way for us to reach Heaven, despite our sins, through the saving power of His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). It was part of God’s plan that Jesus would be born on earth, lead a ministry, perform miracles, be put to an agonizing and humiliating death, and rise again three days later. This was all done so that Jesus would take on the full weight of our many sins, reconciling us with God and giving us eternal life.
While a relationship with Jesus gives us hope for eternal life, it can also bring us peace and comfort amidst our suffering on earth. One of the consequences of collective human sin is that we all suffer in some way. Some people suffer from AIDS; for others, it is cancer, mental illness, or a crippling accident. But you can find solace in knowing that there is someone who can identify with your pain and discomfort. Jesus died an excruciatingly painful death by crucifixion. In fact, the word “excruciating” comes from the Latin word for the cross. After being betrayed by someone He trusted, Jesus was arrested and beaten savagely. He was kicked, spit upon, and given a crown of thorns that dug into the flesh of His forehead. His hands and feet were nailed to a wooden cross where He hung for several hours, struggling to breathe, until He died.
Doesn’t that sound awful? Well, it was. But Jesus endured all of that because of His selfless love for all of us. So if you open your heart to Jesus, you will always have a friend who understands what you are going through. Tell Him about your pain and ask for His comfort. He will always be there to listen.
Jesus died on the cross, but three days later God raised Him again. His triumph over death is our salvation. Jesus did the hard part, but there is still one thing you must do to be saved. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). You can do this right now. Simply tell God you are sorry for your sins, and thank Him for sending Jesus to be your Savior. Letting Jesus change your heart will change the fate of your soul, guaranteeing your place in Heaven. What’s stopping you? There is hope in Jesus Christ today and always.