Treating the Sickness

Have you ever been offered a remedy that sounded rediculous or inconvenient in order to cure an ailment? Something which was altogether different, unconventional or even insulting in order to bring about the healing you needed?

I recall a time when such a remedy was prescribed for me in order to heal a skin deformity on my foot. I went to the doctor expecting some kind of shot or surgical operation in order to remove it. Instead, what he gave me was a prescription for a pill and an interesting diet. I wanted a quick fix and to forget about it, but the doctor had me commit to a steady discipline of work and treatment in order to receive the help I needed. 

In the book of 2 Kings chapter five, a soldier by the name of Naaman was suffering with leprosy, a skin disease which often effected the nervous and immune systems, often fatal over time. He soon came to the prophet Elisha searching for help and healing from his disease. Elisha told Naaman to go and wash himself in the Jordan river seven times to be cleansed of his leprosy. When he heard these instructions, he became insulted because the Jordan was not his idea of a clean river for washing, much less healing. Nevertheless, he did so and found himself cleansed from the terrible and degenerative disease!

Sin is such a disease, 'though in a spiritual sense. We seek the Lord for help and healing from it. Yet, when He instructs us to act upon our faith in Him, to give up the things we love or surrender our expectations of healing, we often feel insulted and humiliated by the reactions we receive from our friends and family.

Sometimes The Lord will ask us to do something small and repetitively over time. Other times he may ask us to make a decision to give up something big or important to us in exchange for full restoration. Whatever the case may be, whatever instructions the Lord may have for us, we should consider His wisdom greater than our own and embrace them with joy. Because in the end, we will find healing as long as we are willing to obey His commands.

Do you seek healing from sin? Has The Lord given you instructions to treat the effects of your disease? Are you insulted by them or are you willing to follow his prescription for holiness? In the end, the choice for healing is yours.