The Balm In Gilead

God is in the process of reaping a harvest of souls for His kingdom. Jesus died so that the harvest could happen. God doesn’t want anyone to perish. He wants everyone to experience the joys of Heaven. He doesn’t want to send anyone to eternal punishment.

BY OUR OWN CHOICE WE WILL DETERMINE WHERE WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY!

The time of harvest is still here now, but it will soon be over. Don’t wait lest you have to say with Jeremiah, the summer is over, the harvest is past, and I am not saved.

Jeremiah cries out, because Israel is dying before my very eyes, because of my extreme grief over my beloved people, I am in despair (I am black) over their chosen path and soon destruction. He was amazed at their callousness in refusing to see the truth that was so plain.

As a minister and a pastor, I am grieved, and hurting for those in our family, our community, and our world who refuse to see the truth. I can see their end. I can see the judgment that awaits them and I cry for them, Why do you not see? Why do you not repent? Don’t you know this world can’t go on forever?

Jeremiah again asked a question that can only have one answer, “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?”

The answer to that question for Israel was YES, THERE IS A WAY TO HEALED. THERE IS A WAY OUT OF THIS TERROR! BUT, WILL YOU TAKE IT, ISRAEL?

There is a Balm in Gilead this day for you.

There is a way for your sin to be forgiven.

There is a way for your life to be changed forever.

There is a way for you to obtain eternal life.

There is a healing for your hurt, your pain and your suffering.

There is an answer to all of your questions.

THAT HEALING BALM IS JESUS CHRIST, WHO DIED FOR YOU!

THE BLOOD OF JESUS CAN WASH AWAY YOUR SIN AND GUILT.

What can wash away my sin – nothing but the Blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again – nothing but the Blood of Jesus.

The question then, is the same that Jeremiah had for Israel, “Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

To put it another way, “Why, if there is a healing balm in this land, and there is the Great Physician to administer the healing balm, why then, is Israel not healed?”

I WANT TO ASK YOU THAT SAME QUESTION TODAY.

Since Jesus is here to save and deliver.

Since He is here to wash your sins away.

Since the Lord is here to give you grace and mercy.

And since He has paid the price so that you can be made whole,

Why are we not saved?

What are we waiting for?

Will we allow Satan to keep lying to us and leading us away from God and into eternity without God?

There is a chorus of an old Methodist Hymn that says:

There is a Balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a Balm in Gilead

To heal the sin-sick soul.

In closing let me use the words of Jeremiah again as he speaks in verse 1 of the 9th chapter, “ Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people.”

Jesus, help us this day, as we stand in your presence, to see your heart and to feel your nail scarred hands as you reach out to us. Help us to see the danger that is ahead. Let the Holy Spirit move upon each of us this day to make things right with you.

Don’t let us enter into eternity and into eternal captivity without you. Help us to make all things right.

AMEN.