It’s flu season again, and we are all trying our best to avoid being infected. Some of us are getting the flu shot, a vaccine to help the body’s fight against the flu if we do contract it. However, we are also fighting against another kind of “virus”: sin.
The lytic cycle is the most basic “life cycle”1of a virus. There are approximately five basic steps which make up the lytic cycle: attachment, injection, synthesis, assembly, and release.2This article is going to discuss those steps as an analogy to our battle with sin.
Attachment
In this step, a specific virus attaches to a specific cell. Certain proteins on the virus bind with the membrane of the cell like a lock and key. This is similar to how each and every one of us endures different trials and have inclinations toward different sins. If we give into temptation and allow sin to take hold of us, we have allowed the virus to latch on.
Injection
In this step, the virus injects its genetic code into the host cell. This is similar to sin integrating itself into our lives once we have given into our temptation and allowed it to influence our behavior. 2John 10-11 warns us of this: “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
This passage isn’t suggesting not letting those “outside the truth” into your home. We are encouraged to do that in Matt 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” We need to be open to others so that we can be spiritual lights in their lives. 2 John 10-11 isn’t contradicting that sentiment. This passage is saying something more along the lines of “don’t let their evil spiritual deeds and attitudes into your heart”. Don’t let the virus inject its genetic information into your host cell.
Synthesis (creation/formation)
In this step, the virus has infiltrated its own genetic information into the host cell, causing the host cell to replicate the virus DNA. After replication, protein synthesis occurs where the host cell “unknowingly” makes the proteins needed to create new molecules beneficial for the virus (proteins, RNA, replicated DNA, etc.). Normally, the host cell is constantly making proteins needed for your body to function and survive. However, the virus has “hijacked” the cell and is using its machinery to make the proteins the invader needs.
When we allow sin into our lives once or twice, it is very easy to allow it in all the time. We allow it to be a part of our habitual routines and thus who we are and what defines us (aka our DNA). It begins managing us. Matt 6:24 warns us that “no man can serve two masters: for either he will hate one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Once viruses have taken over the cell machinery, the virus is in control. Your cell no longer does what you want it to do. It must do what the virus wants. Similarly, sin can control our lives, and we cannot be servants of both God and sin.
“Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me” (Rom 7:20).
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof, neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin …For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom 6:24).
We must be instruments of righteousness and always be conducting ourselves appropriately, not allowing our sin and temptations to dwell inside of us and take control.
Assembly
In this step, the molecules made from viral DNA assemble to create new viruses. This is similar to the act of sinning becoming increasingly trivial. When we repeatedly do the small things, i.e. telling white lies, skipping the daily readings, or forgetting to pray before a meal, it can have a snowball effect and eventually, our sins aren’t so little anymore.
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself spotted from the world” (James 1:27).
We must be spotted (as much as we can be), and if any part of our lives causes us to be led into temptation or sin, we should reevaluate it to avoid manifesting evil ways. We have a merciful Father, willing to forgive us for our sins, but we must repent, not only acknowledging that it was wrong but also acting in a completely different way. We can’t ask for forgiveness every Sunday for the things we’ve done wrong the previous week and then continue into the next week, doing the same things over again. We have to put a stop to the behavior before it can build up into a habit.
Lysis (release)
In this step, the newly formed viruses burst from the cell, destroying it in the process3. This is analogous to sin leading to death. The way we live our lives can either give glory to God, ultimately in his glorious Kingdom, or not. If we allow sin to overcome us and “destroy” our spiritual lives, we condemn ourselves to an eternal death.
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom 8:6-7).
James 1:14-15 is a perfect embodiment of the lytic cycle.
“But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
The temptation discussed in this verse, “but every man is tempted” is representative of attachment; “when lust hath conceived” reflects the injection and synthesis; “bringeth forth sin” is similar to assembly; and finally, “bringeth forth death” echoes lysis.
When the cell is lysed and the viruses are released, they go on to infect other cells. This relates to how we can live worldly lives and drag others into that way of life instead of shining as lights and being good examples. Our actions and behaviors don’t only affect ourselves but also those around us. Christ was an example for us. Likewise, as members of his body, we should be examples for those around us.
How do we fight against these viruses? Fight against sin? Vaccines
Vaccines can be either attenuated or unattenuated, meaning they can be “alive,” but weakened or “dead” viruses. Vaccines work by injecting these viruses into the body and allowing the immune system to “learn” how to fight the infection, but on a small scale, a weakened scale, something it can handle without a full-fledged illness. That way, when the body is confronted by the real viral infection, it has already built up the ability to fight it off.
This is similar to our spiritual lives because we go through trials and are faced with temptations every day, but we must utilize our knowledge and understanding of God’s word to combat them and not give into sin.
1 Cor 10:13 states, “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also made a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” God doesn’t give us trials we cannot handle. He puts trials into our lives in order for us to learn and fight against sin.
“God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Heb 12:10-11).
God puts us through trials so we might grow and live stronger, more spiritual lives. We face temptation so that we might learn to utilize his word and the gospel to fight against the “wiles of the devil”.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph 6:10-13).
We must put on the whole armor of God so that we can face the temptations of this world and not fall into a life of sin, so that we can be protected, just like vaccines help the body protect itself against invading viruses.
Our most important defense is our baptism in the saving name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:1-11).
Why is this important? What is the purpose of connecting sin to the life of a virus? Disease and death are very real to us. We see the immediate effects of them while we don’t see the immediate effects of sin and living a worldly life. That is seen ultimately at the judgement.
We do a lot to protect ourselves from disease because we know the effects and we know that it is unpleasant. We need to approach sin in the same way. Sin is a deadly virus, and if we allow it to infect us, then we commit ourselves to death and allow it to infect others, letting death win. However, if we utilize our immune system and vaccines of the truth, knowledge and understanding of the scriptures and our faith in the Lord, we can fight against sin and be saved, eventually, hopefully, gaining eternal life.
- Viruses are not considered “alive” by the scientific community. However, for the sake of this article, the Lytic cycle will be considered a “life cycle”.
- Black, Michael W.; Boothroyd, John C., “Lytic Cycle of Toxoplasma gondii” Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. American Society for Microbiology. Sept. 2000.
- This splitting of the cell is called “lysing” the cell or cell “lysis” which is where the lytic cycle gets its name.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One