09/07/13 SICK UNTO DEATH
Our world is like a man dying from an unstoppable sickness. Though there are many parts to the man, each part is stricken with various maladies. All of the attempts at self healing fail. Even when it looks like one area of suffering is about to be relieved, the other areas are ravaged so badly that the hope of deliverance is only a slight, momentary distraction. The illnesses mercilessly devour the host body. From time to time there is a cure offered by some supposed "physician," but the therapy and the medication he offers results in a more heinous condition than the original ailment.
However, there is one old Physician Who claims to have the only known cure, from both the immediate and long term devastation of the sickness. It is said, by those He has treated, that there is relief from the pain, infection and final death that follows the all consuming sickness. Though the treatment appears to be obnoxious to the untreated, those who have been touched by the Great Physician have nothing but praise for their healing.
It is sad to watch an entire world suffer the all consuming ravages of a killer disease when the panacea is easily within reach. Why should they perish, when deliverance is but a cry away?
CHRONIC CORRUPTION
Isaiah 1:4-7
(4) Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
(5) Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
(6) From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
(7) Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
Psalms 38:3-8
(3) There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
(4) For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
(5) My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
(6) I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
(7) For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
(8) I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
NO DELIVERANCE
Judges 10:13-14
(13) Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.
(14) Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
Jeremiah 2:28
(28) But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
Jeremiah 8:15
(15) We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!
Hosea 5:13
(13) When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
VAIN HOPE
Proverbs 6:15
(15) Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
Proverbs 14:12-13
(12) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
(13) Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
1 Thessalonians 5:3
(3) For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
ONE CURE
Psalms 103:2-5
(2) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
(3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
(4) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
(5) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
John 3:36
(36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 14:6
(6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 4:12
(12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
CHRISTIAN PRAISE
Psalms 34:1-9
(1) ...I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
(2) My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
(3) O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
(4) I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
(5) They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
(6) This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
(7) The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
(8) O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
(9) O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
DEATH AND LIFE
2 Corinthians 2:14-16
(14) Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
(15) For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
(16) To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
LOOK AND LIVE
John 3:14-15
(14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
(15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
