Articles
Apply the Treatment
I have a patient who is not getting better. She comes to the office complaining vigorously that I am not helping and I need to do something to get her well. I have repeatedly told her the treatment needed. She understands the treatment but will not do what I ask. When I tell her “this is what you must do” she begins to make excuses as to why she cannot, none of which are valid. The simple truth is that she wants me to make the problem go away right now without any effort on her part.
Whether we like it or not, life requires effort. That began with Adam, Eve and the Serpent. A lack of effort will produce predictably undesirable results. God expects us to give maximum effort to be Christ-like (Ro 12:1-2). We committed to living by His will (Ro 6:4-7, 1Jn 3:1-3) to the best of our ability.
Are we so caught up by the enticements of this world that we convince ourselves a minimum effort for Christ is good enough? Jesus addresses this very issue in Luke 14:16-24. Our best effort as God’s invited guest is necessary, all the way to the conclusion of the feast. When the call comes, we are expected to go without excuse.
Work, school functions, vacations, family outings, headaches, being tired, personal difficulties, etc. all sound like good excuses; but what does God think? Will He say “But they all alike began to make excuses.” Where does God want us to be and what are we to be doing? The results of no effort is clearly stated when Jesus concludes; “For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my dinner.” By choosing to withhold yourself from godly activity, results will follow; denial of the privilege to feast at God’s banquet.
We all have a terminal disease called sin. The result of non-treatment is eternal corruption, pain, misery and decay (Lk 16:19-26). The treatment is guaranteed to cure (Mt 19:16-22). But just like my patient, we must personally choose to apply the remedy. I can complain about how life is filled with difficulties and is time consuming, and because of these things I cannot engage in the treatment. But excuses do not change the fact that I must apply the treatment (Ro 6:16). Lack of Bible study and attendance at worship, spending little or no time in prayer, and neglecting spending time with other Christians are the signs of disease in one’s life. What do your vital signs show in how you are treating your disease? Just like my patient, there are only two choices: take action or die.
