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Ravi Zacharias

Ravi Zacharias Ministry – Only the Sick

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Ravi Z

Jeremiah was the prophet who wept. “Since my people are crushed, I am crushed. I mourn, and horror grips me.”(1)

Jeremiah spoke within a period of turbulent unrest among the nations. From the start, his prophecy was surrounded by conflict. As with many prophets, the people refused to heed his message. At times, they abused and even imprisoned the messenger. Yet despite their impetuous misdeeds and faithless offenses, Jeremiah’s empathetic words and earnest prayers portray his love for the people of Judah. As they were crushed, he was crushed. As they continued to turn from God, he mourned. Flattened by the horrors of his day and the agony of pleading with a people who would not listen, Jeremiah asked: “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?”

Certainly Jeremiah longed to see the people comforted in their misery and healed of their iniquities, and yet his question here is rhetorical. Gilead was a city that represented prosperity, a city abounding in the spices and aromatic gums that were used as balms and medicine. Comforting balms were in no shortage; physicians could be found. But there was no salve that could heal, nor doctor who could mend, a people that would not see what was wrong. There is no healing for wounds that won’t be changed.  At this, poets still weep with Jeremiah:

We would rather be ruined than changed;

We would rather die in our dread

Than climb the cross of the moment

And let our illusions die.

It is sad, the consistent assembly of voices insisting that if there is a God, this God has not tried hard enough to reach us. This God has not tried hard enough to reach us in our needs, to meet us in our despair. Knowing the sad and desperate eyes of a child who won’t let you pull the splinter out of his foot or give him the medicine that will make him feel better, it seems more likely that it is not God’s arm that is too short to save or gather us, but we who might tie God’s hands. Could it be that God is not far off, but that in our dread we push God aside? Is it not possible that we cut ourselves off from his cure by refusing to see our own ailment?

The God of the Christian story is powerfully represented as longing to be gracious to the one who makes even the slightest attempt to move nearer. God is imagined as the Father who runs to embrace the prodigal who is yet a great distance off, the hen who longs to gather her chicks under her wings. God is described as inclining his ear and searching hearts. God is shown as one who receives human tears as they fall silently on his human feet. God is presented as one who whispers in our prayers and interprets even groanings when words are lost. Though we make our beds in the depths, the God of faith is mercifully shown as one who draws near.

The people of Judah during the ministry of Jeremiah refused to see their incessant struggle as tearing them apart from the God who longed, like the prophet himself, to reach them. They cried for help, but they wouldn’t see what ailed them or the physician asking to help. They would not see their own behavior as causing further pain and violence to themselves. “Why has this people perpetually turned away?” asked the Lord. “They have held fast to deceit; they have refused to return. I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken honestly. No one repents wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’”

In this simple admission may well be the balm of the cross. In the disclosure of pain and illness is the proclamation of comfort and cure: This sickness will not end in death. But it is only the sick who need a physician.

 

Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

(1) See Jeremiah 8.

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Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

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Morning  “God, that comforteth those that are cast down.” / 2 Corinthians 7:6

And who comforteth like him? Go to some poor, melancholy, distressed child of God; tell him sweet promises, and whisper in his ear choice words of comfort; he is like the deaf adder, he listens not to the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely. He is drinking gall and wormwood, and comfort him as you may, it will be only a note or two of mournful resignation that you will get from him; you will bring forth no psalms of praise, no hallelujahs, no joyful sonnets. But let God come to his child, let him lift up his countenance, and the mourner’s eyes glisten with hope. Do you not hear him sing–

“‘Tis paradise, if thou art here;

If thou depart, ’tis hell?”

You could not have cheered him: but the Lord has done it; “He is the God of all comfort.” There is no balm in Gilead, but there is balm in God. There is no physician among the creatures, but the Creator is Jehovah-rophi. It is marvellous how one sweet word of God will make whole songs for Christians. One word of God is like a piece of gold, and the Christian is the gold beater, and can hammer that promise out for whole weeks. So, then, poor Christian, thou needest not sit down in despair. Go to the Comforter, and ask him to give thee consolation. Thou art a poor dry well. You have heard it said, that when a pump is dry, you must pour water down it first of all, and then you will get water, and so, Christian, when thou art dry, go to God, ask him to shed abroad his joy in thy heart, and then thy joy shall be full. Do not go to earthly acquaintances, for you will find them Job’s comforters after all; but go first and foremost to thy “God, that comforteth those that are cast down,” and you will soon say, “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.”

 

 

Evening  “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the

devil.” / Matthew 4:1

A holy character does not avert temptation–Jesus was tempted. When Satan tempts us, his sparks fall upon tinder; but in Christ’s case, it was like striking sparks on water; yet the enemy continued his evil work. Now, if the devil goes on striking when there is no result, how much more will he do it when he knows what inflammable stuff our hearts are made of. Though you become greatly sanctified by the Holy Ghost, expect that the great dog of hell will bark at you still. In the haunts of men we expect to be tempted, but even seclusion will not guard us from the same trial. Jesus Christ was led away from human society into the wilderness, and was tempted of the devil. Solitude has its charms and its benefits, and may be useful in checking the lust of the eye and the pride of life; but the devil will follow us into the most lovely retreats. Do not suppose that it is only the worldly-minded who have dreadful thoughts and blasphemous temptations, for even spiritual-minded persons endure the same; and in the holiest position we may suffer the darkest temptation. The utmost consecration of spirit will not insure you against Satanic temptation. Christ was consecrated through and through. It was his meat and drink to do the will of him that sent him: and yet he was tempted! Your hearts may glow with a seraphic flame of love to Jesus, and yet the devil will try to bring you down to Laodicean lukewarmness. If you will tell me when God permits a Christian to lay aside his armour, I will tell you when Satan has left off temptation. Like the old knights in war time, we must sleep with helmet and breastplate buckled on, for the arch-deceiver will seize our first unguarded hour to make us his prey. The Lord keep us watchful in all seasons, and give us a final escape from the jaw of the lion and the paw of the bear.