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Good News That Never Runs Out

Albert Alexander, an Oxford policeman, arrived near death at the hospital during the chaos of WWII. The records are vague on how he became infected; however, there is no question about his central role in the medical breakthrough of a generation.

In 1928, after returning from a holiday, Alexander Fleming began sorting through a collection of petri dishes containing Staphylococcus, the bacteria responsible for abscesses, boils and sore throats. One dish featured a lump of mould that was restricting the bacterial growth. Frustrated that he couldn’t progress his accidental discovery further, he provided free samples of the mould to any scientist keen to continue the research. Fast forward, and an Oxford-based team injects a new wonder drug, penicillin, into the body of a critically ill policeman. Within a day, Albert Alexander’s improvement astonished everyone. Tragically, he died within a week when the meagre supply of the experimental drug ran out.

Just as penicillin was discovered in unlikely circumstances, the life-transforming power of the Gospel was revealed in the most unlikely manner. Not through religious leaders or the cultural elite but via the eldest son of a small-town carpenter and His odd assortment of followers. Further, we also see the impact of a vigilant few searching for new knowledge, and their willingness to risk applying it.

One final thought: humility is the catalyst for profound growth. Fleming’s humility in asking for help ultimately saved millions of lives. By humbly accepting our own dependence on God’s grace and forgiveness, our lives will never be the same.

Written by DWAYNE JEFFRIES