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Themes: Remedy for Sin KB Louis Pasteur sat alone in his office one evening when a loud knock broke the silence. Four people anxiously waited for him outside. "Please, can you help us," they begged.
Pasteur invited them in, promising to do what he could. Mr. and Mrs. Meister told the tragic story of how a dog with Rabies bit their son Joseph. Normally, a person who got Rabies would die.
It was the mid 1880's and medical science had not developed a cure for the terrible disease of Rabies. The Meisters had heard from their doctor that Pasteur had developed a vaccine that had worked on animals infected by Rabies. They had come a long way to see if the same vaccine would work on their son.
Pasteur sat back in his chair deep in thought. Finally he spoke. Yes, he had developed a vaccine that worked on rabid animals, but he had been afraid to test it on humans. While it had been successful every time in animals, there was no guarantee that little Joseph would be cured.
The Meisters looked at each other and then back at Pasteur. "What choice do we have?" they asked. "Without the vaccine Joseph will die anyway. At least with the vaccine, we still have hope."
Finally, Pasteur agreed to try his vaccine on Joseph. The vaccine was to be given in doses over a period of 13 days. Each day would be a little stronger dose until the last day. If Joseph survived through the last day there was a good chance that Joseph would live.
Everyday Pasteur gave Joseph the vaccine. Each injection was stronger than the day before. Finally, the night came when he was given the last and strongest injection of all. Pasteur stayed by the boy's bed all night, afraid to sleep. "What if the vaccine doesn't work on humans," he thought. "What if the boy dies? It had to work!"
Pasteur drifted off to sleep. He dreamed that the boy had died and that his vaccine had failed. He awoke with a start and looked over at the boy. What a relief. He was still alive!
The next morning Pasteur checked Joseph to see if there was any progress. He was thrilled! The boy's fever had broken. Joseph then asked for something to eat which signaled to Pasteur that the boy was going to be just fine. The vaccine had worked!
While Pasteur's vaccine would heal the body, the gospel message can heal the soul. You can be healed or saved because "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
Joseph's parents determined that Joseph would live if at all possible. They went straight to the only one who can help. If you want to be saved forever, "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" (Isaiah 55:6).
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