I have a new nephew who was recently welcomed into the world after a nerve rattling pregnancy. His parents were informed several months into the process that their child had a serious health condition and would require intense medical treatment immediately after birth. Several days after being born, baby Miracle was scheduled to have open heart surgery to help care for the unique condition he was born with. Due to the doctors ability to recognise his disease, they were able to determine what treatment would be needed in order to give Miracle the chance to live a healthy life. At the time of this writing, Miracle is recovering well and has already reminded me of an important reality.
We Are All Born with a Heart Issue
There is an issue that is common to us all, the issue of sin. It is a disease that causes us to be at war with the will of our Creator. Some symptoms are, inclination to hide wrongs committed, lack of interest in living for anything beyond ourselves, lying and cheating to get ahead, lusting after others, harbouring anger, refusing to forgive and worshipping (idolizing) false gods to name a few. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. Sin goes beyond what we do; it’s ingrained in the fabric of our being. According to 1 John 3:4 “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” Sin therefore is the violation of the Divine Law which is most clearly written in Exodus 20:1-17 and expounded upon in Matthew 5:21-30.
Romans 5:19 says “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners….” The ‘many’ referred to here means all. All born after the first man Adam inherited the disease of sin. We were each born with a heart that is: “deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick.” Jeremiah 17:9
Some of us have driven ourselves to the hospital while we were sick, and some have even nursed themselves back to health while weak. I’m a supporter of self-help books and believe that we can make personal changes. We can lose weight, we can study different subjects, we can improve our communication skills, etc. However, of ourselves we cannot change the diseased condition that we inherited. Romans 8:7 tells us that “…the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Our nature can’t be improved or modified; it must be replaced.
The Doctor has the Remedy
There is a second part to Romans 5:19 that was not cited earlier: “… so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” Just as the ‘many’ in this verse refers to all regarding the inheritance of sin, it refers to all regarding the gift of salvation (healing). Jesus stated: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Mark 2:17
The only people who do not have a need for the healing Jesus came to bring are the ones who are too self-righteous to admit it. In other words, although we all are in need, only those who are willing to be helped can be helped. Whereas when we are sick, we are satisfied with being restored to our condition before the illness, heaven’s aim is to transform us completely. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Ezekiel 36:26-27
God not only diagnosis our condition through His law, He also offers us the remedy which is Himself. The cure to our disease is in choosing to trust in the Son of God. John the Baptist exclaimed to his audience the words that ring true to us today: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” This reference was made of the same Lamb of God who said “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
Conclusion
Baby Miracle reminded me that the road to healing begins with entrusting ourselves in the care of the One who can restore us. Our diagnosis does not have to be terminal. The Divine doctor’s words left for us are: “Come now, and let us reason together, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18
“Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Isaiah 55:1,2