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Are you healthy, or sick? How do you see yourself? I mean really see yourself.

For those of us who have grown up in the church, and sometimes I even see this in those who haven’t but appear to be good and picking up social cues from those who have, we kind of know how to use “church speak” here. We might believe we know that the question I am asking – because it is being asked by me – a pastor’s wife, a writer, a teacher, a person who is asking this coming as a follow up to her time in the Word each morning – we may realize that I am not asking you a medical question. I am not a doctor. And frankly, even in the midst of a pandemic, I am not nearly as concerned with physical health and sickness as I am with spiritual health and sickness. (Hopefully, that isn’t shocking news to you!)

So I will ask my question again: How do you see yourself? Are you healthy or sick?

Of course, there is a reason I’m asking. I was asking myself the same question this morning and will continue to be asking myself as the thought comes to mind throughout the day. How would I answer? Please hear me, I believe that God wants us to answer honestly. I think the Scripture is very clear that God knows the hearts and thoughts of mankind. He already knows our answer – but do we?

“Healthy people” are people who believe that they are doing well. In fact, sometimes better than well. They look around and take inventory of how they compare or measure up. They consider themselves to be above average in their moral choices and fit in with the cultural norm. They are often thought well of by those around them because they often use inclusive language and belief in a “higher power.” They may not think that they have it all figured out, but they believe that ultimately at the end of their days here on earth, that higher power will draw all creation to itself in some sort of utopia, or at least they will finish life and people will think well of them. The healthy have no need for help. They need no medical attention. They are figuring it out as they go.

In contrast are the sick, right. The messy. Just as sickness has a range in its symptoms and the quantity of medical intervention can differ, sick people have one thing in common. They are sick. They feel it. They know it. (Even if they don’t know just how sick they are – they are aware of a need for medical help.) Sick people know that their bodies are incapable of self-healing. Sick people are not looking at the sickness found in others and then changing their minds about whether or not they too are sick. They are all sick.

Let me ask you, why did God send Jesus? To whom did God send Him? And why would he do that?

Matthew 9: 11-13 “But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners. “

Jesus came to save those who were sick. And Jesus did this and continues to do this. He heals those with physical hurts, emotional wounds, and are in need of spiritual triage. Jesus came to heal. He came to save. And when God sent him, He sent him not to those who believed themselves to be well. He came to those who knew that apart from him, they fell short.

Certainly, there were people who were considered to be “good” people in the day of Jesus. They made morality a priority. They sacrificed. They followed the laws of the land. By the standard of their culture, they were good. But they were sick without knowing it. They were in need but unwilling to acknowledge it. They were independent, proud of their accomplishments and success. They “set the standard.” They were the model of what to emulate.

But they were wrong. They weren’t as healthy as they thought they were. Their “goodness” missed the mark. I believe this is a mistake we are still making.

Friend, there is nothing we can or will ever do that truly makes us good. We are sick. Sick men and women who are born sick. We all bear the same disease from birth – and its name is sin. It cripples us. It lies to us. It leads us farther and farther away from health and ultimately ends in death. There is only one remedy. Only one doctor – ever in the history of all mankind – past, present, and future – that can deliver us from its grip upon us. Only one who holds the answer – and his name is Jesus. The Son of God. The One True God. Not “a higher power,” but the LORD and King of all Creation. And He came to save the sick – those of us who self identify as broken, sinful, desperate, and incapable of saving ourselves.

Are you healthy or are you sick?

LORD God, humble our hearts and minds. Fill us with the truth of our situation. We are helpless without you. We are slaves to our sin apart from you. We ask for you to reign in our hearts. We ask that you take up residence as our LORD and Savior. We recognize our deep and continual need for you and the perfecting and healing that can come from no one else. Increase our understanding of you and of Truth. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Blessings.