HIV infection or Human Immunodeficiency Virus to give its full title is in the news again for all the wrong reasons. The HIV virus causes AIDS, which is a condition that attacks the body’s inbuilt defences against all kinds of other infections.
The virus was first discovered about 30 years ago and since then it is estimated to have killed around 25 million people worldwide.
It is now believed that a quarter of people in the UK who are infected with the virus are unaware of it. That equates to around 22,000 people.
This is only an estimate but it is more than pure guesswork. It is the result of extrapolating the results of tests done on anonymous blood samples that were collected for other reasons.
It is tempting to think that if someone is unaware, then the infection cannot be all that serious and therefore there is little to worry about. Unfortunately, once someone is infected, the virus continues to develop. By the time symptoms begin to show it is often too late for the patient to gain maximum benefit from the treatments that are currently available.
This bad news has resulted in calls for action to reduce the number of infections or to make treatments for the infection more effective. These calls include, for example, wider availability of tests for the virus and education programmes aimed at reducing the number of people becoming infected.
In response to this news, the Terrence Higgins Trust, which is doing sterling work to help those who are HIV positive stated, “With more people living with HIV than ever before in the UK it’s vitally important we invest in targeted HIV prevention and awareness programmes, particularly for gay men who are most at risk.”
There is one action that has the potential to be more effective than any other in eradicating this terrible disease but sadly it is very rarely mentioned let alone encouraged.
By far the best solution is to follow the bible’s instruction on sexual relationships. According to the bible:
■ There should be no sexual activity outside of marriage
Can you walk on hot coals without burning your feet? It is just as dangerous to sleep with another man’s wife. Whoever does it will suffer. (Proverbs 6v28-29)
■ Married people should be faithful to each other for life
Marriage is to be honoured by all, and husbands and wives must be faithful to each other. God will judge those who are immoral and those who commit adultery. (Hebrews 13v4)
■ Marriage is a lifelong exclusive relationship between a man and a woman.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But now I tell you: anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5v27-28)
■ People who are closely related should not indulge in sex
The Lord gave the following regulations. Do not have sexual intercourse with any of your relatives. (Leviticus 18v6)
These are just a few of the biblical instruction regarding sexual relationships, but they are enough to deal with HIV. The more people who choose to follow these instructions, the fewer opportunities there are for the HIV virus to spread. In fact, if the majority of people followed the teaching of the bible, this horrible infection would soon be a thing of the past.
As a bonus, men and women who enter into a lifelong marriage relationship and who work hard to make it a success also find they are living a far more fulfilling life.
