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Reborn into Perfection!

2 Kings 18-20

Well hush my mouth!  Finally a king that tore down the high places!  Do you remember way back during the Wilderness years when a plague of poisonous snakes had infested the Israelite camp (Numbers 21)?  The people had spoken against God and Moses.  They had been grumbling and complaining again and claiming that they would have been better off if they never left Egypt.  Those snakes were doing a lot of biting and a lot of Israelites were dying.  They apologized to Moses and asked that he pray to God on their behalf.  In response God told Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole.  Anyone who was bitten by a snake could then look upon the bronze serpent and live.

Do you remember that story?  You know what came of God’s saving graces on that day so long ago?  Some people started worshipping the bronze serpent and that abominable practice continued on until Hezekiah’ day.  They had created a god and gave it a name “Nehushtan”.  God performed incredible miracles among them and they worshipped the work of their own hands.  Well, Hezekiah put an end to that one!  Here we finally have a king who went all the way.  He walked in the ways of the Lord and he torn down the idols.

Do you notice that even though Hezekiah walked in the ways of the Lord, as no other before him had, that life wasn’t free of trouble and illness?  God did bless him and protect him and guide him but the consequences of living in a fallen world fall upon us all; king and pauper, saved and unsaved alike.  The difference, if you will notice, is that God hears our prayers.  When Hezekiah was sick, and told that he was going to die, he prayed to God who heard his prayer and gave him another fifteen years.

Hezekiah wasn’t perfect.  His pride doomed his children.  He was all too pleased to show off his wealth to the emissaries of Babylon.  He brought a crook into his house so as to brag.  The crook listened intently as the kings pride allowed him to “case the joint”.  In just a few years the Babylonians will come and carry all of Judah off into captivity.  I’m telling you guys, no matter how good a hero of the Bible might appear, they are still human so they will sin.  If Hezekiah had been perfect then Jesus would not have been necessary.  It would have shown that man can perfect himself; that he doesn’t need a savior.  Everything the Bible tells us points to one fact; we need a “super-human” savior; we need Jesus the Christ.

I’m afraid that what too many of us Christians take away from this fact is that we can’t be perfect.  I’m here to tell you that is a lie.  You can’t be perfect without Christ, but if you have accepted Christ then perfection is possible.  It isn’t easy but it is possible.  In fact, that is how you are supposed to be.  Yes you are forgiven and you now live under a new covenant but Jesus said that he came to fulfill the Law not to abolish it.  He said that not one dot or iota would pass from the Law until all had come to pass; that “all” includes His second coming.  He died so that you would be free from the imperfection of sin.  He did not die so you could say “Oh well, I’m a sinner but at least I’m forgiven”.  At least you’re forgiven?  At least?

Don’t you know?  You were a sinner.  Your sin is as far from you as the East is from the West.  You have been cleansed of that imperfect past.  You have God’s own Holy Spirit living within you.  You are no longer a sinner.  Why are you putting those chains back on?  Why are you putting imperfection back on?  Why do you accept the false notion that as far as sin is concerned you can’t help it?  You can help it!  Jesus died so you could help it; not in your own power but in His.  Start living and doing in His power.  When you accepted Christ you were born again; yet it is not you who lives, but Christ who lives within you.  The old has gone the new has come.  That new is a child of the living God who has been made to be perfect.  Stop playing in the gutter.  Stop putting on filthy rages as if to go back to being that person who died.  You would not be better off if you never left Egypt!

Brothers, why do you and I continually act as if we just can’t help sinning?  It’s a lie!  We can help it.  When you accept the lie you give yourself an excuse.  If you ever want to fail at something believe you can’t do it.  You were not made for failure.  You have been reborn into perfection!  Believe it and do it!

Have a blessed day guys!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!

Tear down your high places and idols!

Nevertheless

2 Kings 15-17

“Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away.” (2 Kings 15:4)  How many times have we read that as we have progressed through 1 & 2 Kings?  It only appears after we have been told that this king or that king “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord”.  It’s always an almost-not-quite kind of thing.  They walk in the way of the Lord but they don’t remove the high places and idol worship.  Why?  I’m reminded of Romans 3:10 which says “None is righteous, no, not one”.  No one seems to be able to get up to 100% obedience.  There is always some level of sin present in every human king.  Even David, who had come the closest, lusted in his heart, and committed adultery and murder.  David, a man after God’s own heart; nevertheless, a murderer and adulterer.

How discouraging.  Even the good guys aren’t really good guys.  Of course they didn’t have the shed blood of Jesus Christ to wash away their sin and they didn’t have the Holy Spirit and the fullness of God’s holy Word to guide them in righteousness.  You and I, as Christians, have all of that.  Nevertheless.  If you don’t mind my asking, what is your “nevertheless”?  With Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, you can get to 100% obedience.  I’m not there yet.  Are you?  I know what some of my “neverthelesses” are.  I suspect there are other “neverthelesses” that God will be convicting me of in short order.

Having accepted Jesus Christ and having committed myself to walk in His ways, why do I leave the high places intact?  Why do I cling to my disgusting, fraudulent idols?   What idols you ask?  I tell you mine if you tell me yours.  What?  Confession is good for my soul but not for yours?  Okay, since we aren’t going to turn this into a public confessional let me list the most common among us men.  Ready?  Women, Sex, Money, Food, Sports, Physical gratification, Ourselves – Boy, this could go on all day.  What would you rather do or have than spend time with God?  Idol.  Why?  Why is anything more important to us than God?  Why should there be any high places?  Why should there be any idols in our lives?  There shouldn’t.

Those kings that went most of the way in following God lived a better life than the others that went the opposite direction, but they still earned a nevertheless after their names.  I’m not a king but I still don’t want a “nevertheless” after my name.  Jesus Christ came to Earth, was beaten, abused, spit upon, cursed, pierced and crucified to free me of my sin, including my “nevertheless”.  How can I look my savior in the eye knowing I have left the high places, the idols, in my life unmolested?  Brothers, they need to be torn down; mine, yours, everyone’s.  Each of us has to do our own demolition but we can encourage each other to get to work and remain at work until the job is done.

As I said, I am not a king, but as a child of THE King I am a prince.  I belong to the royal family.  I want to live a life that is worthy of my Father, and my Brother, Friend and Savior Jesus.  To do that I’m going to bring down those high places, those idols.  I’m going to fire up that wrecking ball today!  How about you?

Have a fantastic day my brothers!  Keep your crowns straight!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!

Remain In Him

2 Kings 12-14

Getting a little redundant isn’t it?  A king is murdered, his son takes his place, he doesn’t walk in the way of the Lord and there is no peace.  In the other kingdom finally one of the kings is faithful to God but not completely as he does not destroy the idols.  It is the same thing over and over again.  Every time I read through the Bible I keep saying “Boy these guys are really dense.  Don’t they get it?  How many times do they have to cycle through separation from God and disaster back to faithfulness to God and blessing?  When will they decide to stay in faithfulness?”

The answer, of course, is never; they are fallen.  I point my finger at the Israelites of old but look at America today.  Of course, I have that one finger  pointed outward which means I’ve got three pointed back at me.  Isn’t that how we are as individuals?  God has revealed Himself to us.  He has saved us.  We have been blessed but we start worshiping things and pleasures and we walk away from Him only to suffer the natural consequences of our foolishness.  When will we get it?  When will we decide to stay in faithfulness?

Let me be clear.  The blessings of God are spiritual.  They make the paltry trinkets this world has to offer look like dung.  God’s prophets lived hand to mouth and were content with their lot if not their fellow countrymen.  The kings lived in luxury and perpetual fear of treachery and death.  You don’t obey and remain in Christ so you will get the goodies of this world.  You obey and remain in Christ so you will get the spiritual blessings that make the luxuries of this world fade to nothingness.  Friends, don’t get me wrong.  God made us to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.  He created the Garden of Eden as a wonderful physical place where we could glorify Him and enjoy Him in a physically luxurious setting.

We destroyed that setting because we wanted to glorify ourselves.  We are able to enjoy the spiritual riches Christ promised here today if we have accepted His gift and abide in Him.  Unfortunately, we live in a perverted world of our own making and the physical luxury of Eden is lost to us for a time.  Lost for a time but not forever.  You see we have been told that there is a new Heaven and a new Earth.  Once we meet our Maker face to face we will live in both spiritual and physical luxury.  The entire reason for your existence is that very time.

I was reading a little about the guy that wrote “90 Minutes in Heaven”.  I haven’t read the book but I think I might.  He was a Baptist minister who was hit by a Tractor-trailer and pronounced dead on the scene.  He was dead for 90 minutes.  He saw Heaven.  He tells us that it is real.  It is a physical place.  His book has been a New York Times bestseller.  I’m glad he has come back to us to tell his story and I have no doubt that God sent him back for that purpose but I don’t really need his book or his story to convince me Heaven is real.  I have a better book with a better story.  I have a testimony from an unimpeachable source.  The matter is settled for me.

Jesus didn’t promise us an easy ride until that day we see Him face to face.  In fact, from a physical point of view, He promised us trouble.  He said the world will hate us because they hate Him and He is in us.  Jesus also said, however, that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.  My friends, I’m here to tell you that no matter what you are facing, no matter what you are struggling with, you can have the peace, joy, and abundant life Jesus came to give you.  This won’t be the taking away of the consequences of living in a fallen world, but it will be peace, joy and abundance nevertheless.  You want it?

If you haven’t accepted Christ’s sacrifice for you sin then that is the first and most crucial step.  It all starts there.

John 14:6

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

If you have accepted Christ then “remain in Him”.

John 15:5-11

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Remain in His love.  Obey His commandments that His joy may be in you and that your joy may be full!

Have a blessed and wonderful day brothers!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!

Partial Obedience Is Still Disobedience

2 Kings 9-11

Man!  Today’s reading read like a Hollywood action movie!  I was getting giddy reading how Jehu obeyed God by ridding the land of the descendents of Ahab and Baal worship.  I was thinking to myself, “finally a man with real zeal for the Lord!”  I mean this guy killed every descendant of Ahab.  He killed every follower of Baal.  He tore down all the worship places of Baal and turned one of them into a toilet.  Yes!! Dude!! Way to go!!!

Imagine my surprise when I came to this passage:

2 Kings 10:29

“But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan.”

And this one:

2 Kings 10:31

“But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.”

What?!!!  What happened?!!!  How could he go so far only to stop short?  It turns out Jehu wasn’t as godly as I had thought.  You see he went along with God’s commands as long as they furthered his self-centered ambitions.  You see, Ahab’s descendents would have been challengers to his throne if he had allowed them to live.  Ahab had heavily promoted Baal worship and so there would likely be pockets of support for the old regime among this congregation of followers.  Destroying both served his purpose and he could use the excuse of “God told me to do it!”

Once he had what he wanted his zeal for God evaporated.  His only real zeal was for himself.  Have you seen this in the church today?  Have you seen some of these TV preachers claiming Biblical promises as reasons you should enrich them?  “God said you should send me a hundred dollars!  Praise Jesus!”  Boy that gets my blood boiling!

I cringe every time a purported Christian goes on Larry King Live.  The only one I have ever felt acquitted himself well was Rick Warren.  Now to be fair, I don’t watch Larry so I’ve missed more Christians on this show than I’ve seen.  I remember Rick being asked by Larry “So, do you say that Jesus is the only way to heaven?’  I loved Rick’s answer.  He sat there with a Bible in his hands and he hefted it and said “Larry, I don’t say that, this book does.”  Hallelujah!  Someone finally said it!  You aren’t arguing with me; you’re arguing with God!

At any rate, my wife told me that a “Christian Artist”, Jennifer Knapp, was on Larry’s show with Ted Haggard and her former pastor, Bob Botsford.  She told me that Jennifer was saying she was gay and a Christian.  Her pastor was telling her and the world that homosexuality is sin and Ted Haggard was saying that he didn’t want to get into the right or wrong of homosexuality but wanted us to focus on Jesus’ commandment to love each other.

Here was a pastor, Bob Botsford, telling his former congregant that he loved her and he wanted her to know the danger she was in.  Ted Haggard, if you don’t recall, was the former pastor of a mega church who was discovered to be having an extra-marital affair with another man.  Ted was right to mention that we needed to focus on God’s command that we love each other, which was exactly what Jennifer’s former pastor was doing.

Ted’s comments, however, insinuated, whether intentionally or not, that Bob was not being loving.  You see, Ted would be called a hypocrite if he condemned homosexuality.  I don’t know if Ted has repented of his sin but since he can’t address the issue of God’s condemnation of homosexuality without being called a hypocrite he shouldn’t be accepting invitations to go on National Television to discuss it.

Unfortunately Ted wants a come-back so he gave Jennifer, and others like her, a false sense of security.  It isn’t the loving thing to do.  If a person is unknowingly killing them self, is it loving to say they aren’t?  Isn’t the loving thing to do to tell them they are killing them self?  Remember Michael Jackson?  Was his family being hateful when they told him he was killing himself?  Were those that enabled his drug abuse showing him love?

Ted is going to have some finger pointing to deal with when Jennifer and her fellow misguided soles find themselves in a very hot place.  Ted is using scripture and following God’s commands only so far as they suit his purpose.  Am I angry at Ted?  No.  I’m sad for Ted and for Jennifer.  They are lying to themselves and to others and they seem to have no idea what lies ahead.

Those TV preachers and Ted, however, are not the only ones who suffer from this disease.  We all seem to grab hold of the bits and pieces of God’s word that suit our purpose and disregard or at least ignore that which does not.  My friends, truth is truth.  Reality will not conform to your desires.  God is the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of universal governance.  You have no say in His laws.  Obedience in some is still disobedience.  You are guilty and there will be consequences.

There is hope.  A reprieve from the judgment that is coming can be had, but it will require that you admit that your sin is sin.  It will require that you confess genuine regret for your sin and a desire to be free from it.  It will require that you come to Christ on your knees and request forgiveness through His sacrifice.  It is only His blood that will set you free.  As long as you insist that sin is not sin you are dead.

Brothers, obey God completely not only in that which suits your purpose.  If you only go so far you have not gone far enough.

Have an obedient and blessed day!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!

The Forest And The Trees

2 Kings 6-8

As we have read about Elisha in 2 Kings, I marvel at the variety of stories we have been told.  At times it feels like we are rambling from one episodic moment to the next.  The problem for me is I can start to “jog” through these stories without picking up on their significance.  This tendency is further enhanced by the fact that I keep looking for the “big picture” in the daily reading.  I’m afraid I begin to suffer from the old saying “I can’t see the forest for the trees.”

As I’ve thought about it I realize that the big picture never really changes.  God created all of humanity to be in right relationship with Him.  Man chose to walk away from that relationship and continues to suffer the horrible consequences of that decision.  The big picture is everyone needs the one and only Savior to be restored to right relationship with God and that Savior is Jesus Christ.  Everything in the Bible points to Jesus.

Jesus is “the” hero of the Bible story.  He is our protagonist.  Now you might be surprised by the identity of the antagonist.  It is not, as you might think Satan.  Oh, he is a malevolent figure that floats in and out of our story but the antagonist of the Bible story is the self-centered heart of every human being.  Sinful man is the antagonist here.  You and I are the antagonist; or at least we were until we accepted Christ’s sacrifice and joined the good guys.

You see, sin is what Jesus came to conquer.  It is sin that fights against Him.  The life and death battle between Jesus and sin is a battle between Jesus and every self-centered heart.  Self-centeredness is at the heart of every sin.  Self-centeredness is the attitude of a created being attempting to raise himself above the Creator.  I remember an old saying “Your arms are too short to box with God”, and yet every impulse of our self-centered hearts is to say to God “I’m god and you’re not!”

What we have been reading in the Bible from day one is this epic battle, and the stories we read today are no different.  So that is the big picture, but what about all of these vignettes with Elisha?  Have you ever stopped to think about why any given little scene in the Bible was included?  Think about this.  God, through His Holy Spirit, has guided the creation of word in the Bible.  If this is true then nothing in this Bible is here on accident.  There are no throw away lines in this text.  Every iota and dot of Scripture has purpose.

I believe that in reading through the Bible in a year we are a bit between the big picture and the close-up.  We are at a middle distance and we often lose the detail.  This is natural.  To dissect every bit of scripture in every day’s reading would be an all day affair.  Yet, much is to be gained if we remember that everything is here for a reason and it all relates back to the story God is telling us in His Word.

With all of that said, I’d like to look at two items in today’s reading.  The first is the confidence Elisha has when surrounded by the Syrian army.  Elisha’s servant is fretful because, in his ignorance, he fears for the safety of his master; and likely himself.  This servant says “Alas, my master!  What shall we do?”  I found Elisha’s response fantastic!

2 Kings 6:16

“He said, ‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’”

Who is Elisha talking about?  Those that are with us are more than those who are with them?  Where is this vast host of warriors?  Elisha prayed to God to enlighten this young man.

2 Kings 6:17

“Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

I’m reminded of what Paul said in Romans:

Romans 8:31

“…If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Elisha knew that God was more powerful than anything man, or Satan for that matter, could throw at him.  His relationship with God and spiritual maturity allowed him to see the power which surrounds the true children of God.  Imagine, a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire.  I guess in today’s terms we’d be looking at a mountain of Abram tanks armed with nuclear missiles!  Do you not realize that when you are about your Father’s business that you are surrounded by an innumerable host of heavenly beings armed and ready to defend you?

Why should we be timid in sharing the Gospel?  Why should we have any fear and trepidation?  If God is for you who can stand against you?  God included this story in the Bible for you to read today.  He is telling you that His children, who are about His business, have nothing to fear.  What does the knowledge of this mean to you?  Does it give you confidence?  It should!  It really, really should!

Finally, we read of a changing of leadership in Judah.  In fact we read of two changes of leadership in Judah.  Jehoshaphat, who had been fairly faithful to God has finally gone to his ancestors and his son, Jehoram, comes to power.  Jehoram does not walk in his father’s footsteps but in the ways of Ahab.  If you will recall Ahab was the king of Israel that worshipped foreign gods.  Jehoram’s son, Ahaziah, also worships foreign gods.

I’ve mentioned before that as fathers we have a responsibility to set a good example for our children and if we don’t, we share a portion of blame for their behavior.  The Bible shows us however, that even if a child has a poor example as a father he can still choose to follow God, as did Asa, Jehoshaphat’s father.  It also shows us that you can set a good example and your child can still go astray.  In my opinion, if you’ve been the father you are supposed to be, have set a good example and taught them the ways of the Lord, then you have no culpability for the choices of your child.  I don’t know if Jehoshaphat did his part or not but child did go wrong.

Do you notice what led Jehoram astray?  He married a daughter of Ahab who worshipped foreign gods.  How many times have we seen this?  A guy has a casual attitude about marrying a non-believer.  Guys, if you are not married don’t marry a non-believer and don’t kid yourself into thinking you can win them over.  It’s a bad idea.  If you are married I hope you chose to be with a believer.  If did marry a non-believer, this is not an excuse to bail.  You have made a commitment before God and you must now exhibit Christ-like behavior for two reasons; because you are a Christian and because by doing so you may bring your bride into salvation.  This is serious stuff guys and we just can’t afford to be indifferent to the most influential relationship you will have outside of the Holy Spirit.

Brothers, you are a child of the living God.  He hasn’t taken you up to Heaven to be with Him yet because He has work for you to do here on Earth.  You must make every effort to identify that work, or mission, and compare every decision you make against it.  Marrying a non-believer is not consistent with whatever mission God has for you.

If you have married a non-believer your primary mission now is to model Christ for them so they will respond to the call of grace.  Your wife is bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh.  How can you possibly be about your Father’s business when part of you, your wife, is not dedicated to the same business?  You cannot force or browbeat or cajole anyone into accepting Christ.  All you can do is point them to Christ by your behavior.  People can’t hear a word you are saying when your bad behavior is screaming in their ears.  If you love your wife the way Christ loves the church a desire for Christ is a likely response.

Well, those are a couple of the trees as I see them.  Please tell me about the trees you see.

Have a fantastic day brothers!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!

Miracle Worker

2 Kings 3-5

Get a load of all the miracles Elisha performs in today’s reading.  I saw a little blurb about the miracles of Elijah compared with the miracles of Elisha.  You may remember that as Elijah was preparing to be taken up to heaven Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.  Interestingly enough the Bible records seven miracles of Elijah and thirteen miracles of Elisha.  Elisha was granted his request but he almost had a double portion of miracles to boot.  The book “Every Miracle in the Bible” states that the major miracles performed by Elijah were miracles of judgment while the miracles of Elisha were focused on life.

I’m not sure I can go along with that.  The argument that the mauling of the youths that taunted Elisha by bears is focused on life rather than judgment seems a bit tenuous.  The idea here is that this was a moment of calling a lost nation back to God through a powerful demonstration of the peril of ridiculing Him.  But if this curse is designed to call people back to life in God, wouldn’t all curses or judgments also be calls to life?  In fact I believe all of these stories of curses and punishments dished out by God are exactly that, a call to the lost to return to the one true and holy God.

At any rate, here are the miracles of Elisha:

1.    Elisha divides the Jordan’s waters.

2.    Elisha heals a spring’s waters.

3.    Elisha curses jeering young men with a bear attack.

4.    Elisha provides water for a thirsty army.

5.    Elisha multiplies a widow’s oil.

6.    Elisha promises a pregnancy.

7.    Elisha raises the widow’s son.

8.    Elisha makes poisoned food harmless.

9.    Elisha multiplies loaves of bread.

10.  Elisha heals Namaan the leper.

11.  Elisha curses Gehazi with leprosy.

12.  Elisha makes an ax head float.

13.  Elisha blinds and gives sight.

This list of miracles reminds me of both Moses and Jesus.  Moses also divided water and made water appear for a thirsty multitude.  A number of individuals who jeered Moses also met a grizzly end (sorry for the pun).  Jesus multiplied loaves and fishes just as Elisha did with loaves and oil.  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead just as Elisha raised the widow’s son.  I realize this is a stretch but the floating ax head could be compared to Jesus walking on the water but you’ll probably laugh at me for suggesting it so forget I said anything about that one.  Finally, many view the Old Testament appearances of the Lord to human beings on Earth as the “pre-incarnate Christ”.  Thus, in continuing our analogy, the Lord promising Abraham a son would compare with Elisha promising the woman a son.

I imagine we could do some more work here and pair each of Elisha’s miracles with those of Moses or Jesus but I’d like to move on to discussing Naaman’s leprosy.  Naaman is a pretty successful guy.  The Bible says he was a great man in high favor of the king of Syria, a pretty powerful force at this time.  In fact, Naaman was the commander of Syria’s powerful army.  Even the little girl who was dragged from her home to be a slave to Naaman seemed to like him as she wished he would go to see Elisha to be heal of his leprosy.  He sounds like a pretty nice guy with a lot going for him; well except for the leprosy.

Do you know lost people who are “good people”?  They are always doing good things for others and are as nice as can be?  As nice as they may be by man’s standard, before a holy God they are lepers.  They are stinking, rotting, malformed, contagious, sinners.  That’s Naaman.  That’s the lost.  With all that is going in Naaman’s favor he is a very prideful man.  God doesn’t like pride.

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things that the Lord hates,

seven that are an abomination to him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked plans,

feet that make haste to run to evil,

a false witness who breathes out lies,

and one who sows discord among brothers.

What is number one on the Proverbs list of things God hates?  Haughty eyes.  Other translations render this as a “proud look”.  No matter how you say it, we are talking about pride here and it is listed first.  The whole process of Naaman being cleansed is a process of shoring him of his pride.  Let me tell you something friends you cannot come to God on your terms.  You cannot come with a prideful heart.  A sinner can only come before a holy God on his knees.

Naaman expected to be met by Elisha not his servant.  He expected a great religious ritual but was told to go take jump in the lake; I mean river.  If Naaman was going to be saved from leprosy, if he was going to be cleansed, he was going to have to humble himself.  I don’t know if modern medicine has cure for leprosy but back then man could not heal that disease.  Only God could cure leprosy.  It’s why it was one of the miracles Moses performed before Pharaoh.  It symbolizes here the same thing it did in Moses’ day as well as Jesus’ day; sin.  Only God can cure humanity of sin.

Like Naaman, so many believe in religious ritual as a way to be saved.  They look to “holy men” to heal them of any number of ailments.  My friends only Jesus Christ can heal what is sick and hurting in this lost and dying world and anyone who wants to be cured can have the cure if they will only humble themselves before Christ, accept His sacrifice for their sin, turn their back on their dead selves and be reborn in newness of life.  Now there’s a miracle!

Have a blessed day my brothers!

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Bill

Dying to self, living to serve!