WHEN WE WERE ALL KIDS IN GRADE SCHOOL, I AM SURE THAT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN OUR TEACHERS ASKED US TO SHARE WHAT WE WANTED TO BE WHEN WE GREW UP.
AS ALL CHILDREN WOULD ANSWER, WE MUST HAVE SAID THINGS LIKE "A FIREFIGHTER," "POLICE OFFICER," "DOCTOR," "ASTRONAUT," OR A "PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE."
I CANNOT IMAGINE FOR ONE MOMENT THAT THERE EVER WAS A CHILD WHO SAID, "WHEN I GROW UP, I WANT TO BE AN INCOMPLETE, UNFULFILLED, INCOMPETENT, A DISCONTENTED NOBODY WHO WILL NEVER REACH MY TRUEST POTENTIAL."
SOME PEOPLE DO FIND THEIR PURPOSE AND FULFILL GOD’S WILL FOR THEIR LIFE AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO DON’T. IN BOTH CASES THE END RESULT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED NOT TO ABILITY OR DESIRE, BUT BY HOW ONE ENCOUNTERED AND HANDLED THE DETOURS ALONG THE ROAD TO THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL.
WE MAKE THE CONSCIOUS CHOICE TO GO THROUGH LIFE IN OTHER WAYS THAT END UP RUINING OUR GOD-GIVEN POTENTIAL AND OUR GOD-GIVEN DESTINIES. SOMETIMES IT IS BECAUSE WE GET CAUGHT UP IN DETOURS THAT AREN’T OF OUR OWN MAKING. BUT, EITHER WAY, IT IS IN HOW WE RESPOND TO THOSE DETOURS THAT WILL USUALLY DETERMINE WHERE WE END UP NEXT.
THIS IS WHY SOME LIVES ARE FILLED WITH SO MANY "IF ONLY" STATEMENTS. "IF ONLY I HADN’T PASSED ON THAT RUMOR," "IF ONLY I HAD TAKEN THAT JOB TRANSFER WHEN THE PLANT SHUT DOWN," "IF ONLY I WOULD HAVE LISTENED TO YOUR ADVICE," OR "IF ONLY I HAD SOUGHT HELP INSTEAD OF TURNING TO ALCOHOL."
WE DON’T HAVE TO LEAVE A TRAIL OF "IF ONLY" STATEMENTS BEHIND US AS WE PROGRESS THROUGH THIS JOURNEY CALLED ’LIFE.’ WE DO NOT HAVE TO SUCCUMB TO THE LIES THAT WE MUST YIELD TO A LIFE OF REGRET THAT OFFERS NO HOPE OR HEALING SIMPLY BECAUSE WE GAVE IN TO OUR SINFULNESS.
BECAUSE OF THE OUTRAGEOUS LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE LIBERTY OF HIS FORGIVENESS, WE CAN FULLY REALIZE THAT CHRIST WILL ALSO OFFER US THE HOPE OF WHOLENESS TO RESTORE US BACK ONTO THE RIGHT TRACK OF PURSUING OUR TRUEST POTENTIAL WHICH IS GOD’S WILL FOR OUR LIVES.
PSALM 34:18, "THE LORD IS CLOSE TO THE BROKENHEARTED AND SAVES THOSE WHO ARE CRUSHED IN SPIRIT." ISAIAH 53:3-4, "HE WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN, A MAN OF SORROWS, AND FAMILIAR WITH SUFFERING…SURELY HE TOOK UP OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED OUR SORROWS, YET WE CONSIDERED HIM STRICKEN BY GOD, SMITTEN BY HIM, AND AFFLICTED."
THE GOOD NEWS FOR US TODAY IS THAT JESUS CHRIST WHO OFFERS US HIS RESTORING WHOLENESS HAS NOT ONLY SHARED IN OUR SUFFERING, BUT BECAME FULLY AWARE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO SUFFER GREATLY WHEN HE WENT TO THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS.
JESUS CHRIST HAS FULLY PROVEN TO US THAT HE WANTS US TO BE HEALED AND MADE WHOLE. HE HAS PROVEN THAT HE IS ALWAYS CLOSE ENOUGH TO CARE. HE HAS PROVEN THAT HE IS WILLING TO SHARE HIS ETERNAL POWER TO BRING US THROUGH THE HEALING PROCESS.
ONE OF THE POWERFUL MESSAGES IN THE GOSPELS IS THE STORY OF JESUS CHRIST OFFERING HEALING AND WHOLENESS TO THOSE NEEDING MERCY, FORGIVENESS, AND RESTORATION. JESUS SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF HIS TIME WITH SUCH PEOPLE.
IT IS WHY THE PHARISEES WERE ALWAYS SO ANGERED WITH JESUS. THE PHARISEES WERE MORE INTERESTED IN SEEING THAT SINNERS WERE CRUSHED FOR THEIR SINS. THEY HAD LITTLE PLACE FOR ANYONE WHO ACCEPTED AND TRANSFORMED THE SINNER TO THE SAME STANDING OF "THE RIGHTEOUS."
IT WAS THE REASON FOR CHRIST TO COME TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS. NO WONDER JESUS RESPONDED TO THE PHARISEES BY SAYING, "IT IS NOT THE HEALTHY WHO NEED A DOCTOR, BUT THE SICK…FOR I HAVE NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS."
JESUS IS TELLING US THAT HE HAS COME TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE WHO REALIZE THEIR NEED AND WANT HIM IN THEIR LIVES. JESUS IS TEACHING US THAT GOD WANTS US TO DEVELOP A HEART-ATTITUDE THAT INCLUDES A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND WITH OTHERS, AN ATTITUDE THAT REACHES OUT TO THOSE IN PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEED.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT BRING WHOLENESS INTO OUR LIVES. SO, HOW CAN WE BEGIN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING THIS INTO OUR LIVES? FIRST, BY FACING REALITY. THE PSALMIST WROTE IN 32:3, "WHEN I KEPT SILENT, MY BONES WASTED AWAY THROUGH MY GROANING ALL DAY LONG." THERE IS NOTHING THAT SO TAKES THE JOY OUT OF LIFE LIKE UNCONFESSED SIN ON THE CONSCIENCE.
HEALING BEGINS NOT WHEN WE ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEMS OURSELVES; NOT WHEN WE ATTEMPT TO "FAKE IT UNTIL WE MAKE IT." INSTEAD, HEALING IS INITIATED WHEN WE ADMIT OUR BROKENNESS, THE FACT THAT SIN HAS OCCURRED, AND THAT WE NEED GOD’S DIVINE HELP.
WE MUST FACE UP TO WHERE WE WENT WRONG. THE OLD SAYING OF "TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS" IS ONLY TRUE TO SOME EXTENT. WE MUST BE WILLING TO FORGIVE, BE FORGIVEN AND THEN LET IT GO. IN OTHER WORDS, DEAL WITH IT AND THEN LET IT GO AND STOP PICKING AT IT AND BRINGING IT BACK UP AGAIN.
WE MUST ALSO, IN OUR FRAILTY AND SUFFERING, BE WILLING TO SEEK HELP. WE MUST NEVER ATTEMPT TO CARRY OUR PAIN ALL ALONE. I THINK TOO MANY PEOPLE TRY TO DOWNPLAY THEIR PAIN OUT OF FEAR OF WHAT OTHERS MIGHT SAY.
MAY WE NEVER CARRY A LOAD OF PAIN WITHIN THE ISOLATION OF OUR SOULS. LET US FACE REALITY THAT WE MUST RID OURSELVES OF THE HEAVY BURDEN. LET US FACE REALITY THAT THE CHURCH IS A SAFE PLACE TO HELP US GET RID OF IT.
BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY, LET US FACE THE REALITY THAT GOD WANTS US TO GIVE HIM ALL THESE BURDENS THAT ARE TROUBLING US. MATTHEW 11:28-29, "COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST."
THE HEALING PROCESS IS BIRTHED WHEN ONE FACES REALITY AND ADMITS, "I AM HURTING. I CAN NO LONGER DO THIS ALONE. " LET US TAKE THE FIRST STEP BY FACING REALITY.
A SECOND WAY OF HELPING TO BRING WHOLENESS INTO OUR LIVES IS BY RECEIVING GOD’S GIFT OF COMMUNITY. PLEASE KNOW THAT GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR YOUR HEALING TO OCCUR IN PRIVATE ISOLATION. GOD CREATED THIS MARVELOUS AND WONDERFUL GIFT CALLED THE CHURCH THAT IS HOPEFULLY FILLED WITH A COMMUNITY OF CARING CHRISTIANS WHO AGREE TO COME ALONGSIDE OF YOU WITH GRACE, UNDERSTANDING AND LOVE.
IT IS BELIEVING THAT OTHERS ARE WILLING TO LIVE OUT THE COMMAND OF JESUS IN JOHN 13:34, "’A NEW COMMAND I GIVE YOU: LOVE ONE ANOTHER. AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, SO YOU MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER. BY THIS ALL MEN WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER.’"
THE CHURCH IS TO BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR SOULS. IT HAS BEEN HUMOROUSLY SAID THAT THE CHURCH IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION KNOWN FOR SHOOTING ITS WOUNDED. AS A CHURCH, WE LIVE DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO CONTRADICT THAT STATEMENT.
WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER BY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE GIFT OF COMMUNITY IS A DIRECT OUTGROWTH OF CHRIST’S LOVE FOR US. THINK OF IT THIS WAY: IF JESUS HAD NEVER GONE TO THE CROSS AND RESURRECTED FROM THE GRAVE, IF JESUS HAD NOT GONE FACE TO FACE WITH THE FORCES OF EVIL, THEN THE EXISTENCE OF THE CHURCH WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.
THE CHURCH IS A DIRECT OUTGROWTH OF THE VERY EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRED DURING THE FINAL WEEK OF CHRIST’S LIFE ON EARTH. IN FACT, WHAT WE KNOW AS "HOLY WEEK" IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE LOVE EXHIBITED IN THE PASSION OF CHRIST THAT THE CHURCH BE DRIVEN TO REACH OUT AND EXPRESS GOD’S GIFT OF HEALING AND WHOLENESS.
THIS IS WHY WE NEVER HAVE TO WALK THE JOURNEY OF HEALING AND WHOLENESS ALONE EVER AGAIN. WHY? BECAUSE GOD HAS GIFTED US WITH COMMUNITY AND WE FULLY ACCEPT THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL STAND BY US WITH SUPPORT.
LET US NEVER FORSAKE LOVING ONE ANOTHER. LET US NEVER FAIL SAY, "I LOVE YOU," "I UNDERSTAND." "I CARE." A SECOND WAY OF HELPING TO BRING WHOLENESS INTO OUR LIVES IS BY RECEIVING GOD’S GIFT OF COMMUNITY.
A THIRD WAY OF HELPING TO BRING WHOLENESS INTO OUR LIVES IS BY DETERMINING TO MOVE AHEAD. WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING! WE CANNOT STAY DOWN FOR THE COUNT. WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN SOME SORT OF FORWARD MOMENTUM.
AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, "FAILURE IS NOT IN FALLING DOWN, BUT IN THE REFUSAL TO GET BACK UP AGAIN." GALATIANS 6:9, "LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP." WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD BY REFUSING TO GIVE UP.
WE ALSO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD BY REALIZING THAT OUR HEALING IS NOT SO MUCH AN INSTANTANEOUS GIFT, AS MUCH AS IT IS A PROCESS. WE MAY STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS.
THERE WILL BE TIMES THAT WE WILL HAVE TO "DO BUSINESS" WITH SOME OF THE DARK SIDES OF LIFE THAT STILL COME AFTER OUR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS. THE HEALING COMES IN REALIZING THAT GOD IS STILL WORKING OUT MY WHOLENESS.
PHILIPPIANS 1:6, PAUL WROTE, "HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL COMPLETE IT IN THE DAY OF CHRIST JESUS." PAUL SAID THAT GOD "WILL" COMPLETE NOT "DID" COMPLETE. WE MUST ALLOW GOD’S WORK OF GRACE TO BE A PROCESS OF GROWTH.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN IT COMES TO GOD’S HEALING IN YOUR LIFE AND RESTORING WHOLENESS IN YOUR SOUL, BE AS PATIENT WITH YOURSELF AND YOUR GOD AS HE IS PATIENT WITH YOU! WE MUST ALLOW GOD TO WORK IN ANY WAY HE SO CHOOSES TO BRING OUR HEALING AND WHOLENESS.
GOD’S PROCESS IS NOT ALWAYS AS CONVENTIONAL AS WE ALWAYS EXPECT. JESUS SPIT IN THE BLIND MAN’S EYES AND HE TOLD A CRIPPLE TO JUST GET UP, TAKE HIS BED AND GO HOME.
DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE WAYS GOD USES TO GROW OUR FAITH. WE MUST BE STILL AND LEARN WHAT GOD IS TEACHING US ABOUT OUR SITUATION AND ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS HIS CHILD.
1 TIMOTHY 4:15-16, "BE DILIGENT IN THESE MATTERS; GIVE YOURSELF WHOLLY TO THEM, SO THAT EVERYONE MAY SEE YOUR PROGRESS. WATCH YOUR LIFE AND DOCTRINE CLOSELY. PERSEVERE IN THEM, BECAUSE IF YOU DO, YOU WILL SAVE BOTH YOURSELF AND YOUR HEARERS." A THIRD WAY OF HELPING TO BRING WHOLENESS INTO OUR LIVES IS BY DETERMINING TO MOVE AHEAD.
GOD WANTS US TO BE WHOLE. WE MOVE TOWARDS THAT WHOLENESS BY FACING REALITY RATHER THAN RUNNING FROM IT. WE ACCEPT COMMUNITY RATHER THAN TRYING TO GO AT IT ALL ALONE. WE DETERMINE TO MOVE AHEAD AND MAKE PROGRESS BY LEARNING FROM GOD AND REFUSING TO EXPECT HIM TO "SKIP THE LESSON" BY GIVING ME AN INSTANT CURE.
HEAR THE GOOD NEWS: THE GIFT OF HEALING AND WHOLENESS IS OFFERED TO ANYONE WHOSE LIFE IS FILLED WITH REGRET, BROKENNESS, DISAPPOINTMENTS, PAIN, MISERY, AND ALL OTHER TORMENTING ISSUE THAT IS A DISEASE OF OUR SOULS. THE GIFT AWAITS YOU. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, IS HOLDING YOU BACK?
