No Loopholes

 

One of the most popular entertainers of the vaudeville era was W.C. Fields (1880-1946). While Fields could make audiences roar with laughter, he was certainly not a Christian and made no pretense of his disdain for the Bible. Thus, it came as a great shock when one of Field’s friends, visiting him in the hospital one day near the end of his life, found him reading the Bible. When asked what he was doing, Fields, ever the comedian, replied, “Just looking for loopholes.”

In spite of my human nature, I have always been conscience of the presence of God in my life and often sorrowful for ignoring the obvious guidance He has provided. But that aside, I am grateful for the awesome way He has placed good lifechanging situations before me at just the right times in my life and introduced me to the right people as I was in need. Now that I could write about all day. I see situations in other people’s lives, and I never hesitate to remind them of God’s activity in their life, especially when they want to contribute a healing or happenstance to a “miracle.” I remind them to thank God for their healing, or their doctor, or surgeon, for it was He that placed those good people in their life. When one gets that job at just the right time, or gets the money needed to pay that bill unexpectedly – give God the glory for He has blessed those who are blessing you.

[Matthew 9:12; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31] It’s great to know God is active in our physical life, but more importantly, He is the only cure for our sin-sick spirit. The Bible never explicitly calls Jesus the Great Physician, but this title is implied from His statement: “…Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” We know medical doctors strive to cure the physical ailments and diseases of mankind, but we often forget that Christ – our spiritual doctor – works to heal those who are dying in sin (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Since Adam and Eve tried to hide themselves from God (Genesis 3:7-8), man has tried to heal himself of sin. Many recognize that they are sin-sick and full of spiritual disease, yet too often they cover their sickness with a bandage instead of placing themselves into the hands of the Great Physician. From the idolatry of old to the new age mysticism, mankind has sought prescriptions of every sort as remedies for sin. This includes child sacrifices, confessions before priests, and even denial of sin itself. However, the words of Job are as true today as when he said, “…But you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians (Job 13:4). Nothing is accomplished if one’s doctor sends him to the pharmacy for medication when what one really needs is major surgery. Yet, that’s what occurs with personalized cures for sin-sickness. Folks dress up sin, rename it, and prescribe it for one’s spiritual afflictions, but it will never give anyone the relief which only Jesus Christ offers. As a result, mankind remains in sin – not because the Great Physician is unavailable, but because mankind refuses to come to Christ in lowliness of mind (Matthew 5:3) to hear His Word and accept His remedy. Without Him, there can be no cure (Acts 4:12).

“Is there no balm in Gilead, is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people? (Jeremiah 8:22). Yes, there is a physician – his name is Jesus Christ, and He alone has the prescription to cure us all of sin-sickness. Remember: “…He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). There are no loopholes or shortcuts for proper physical cures of the body. Neither are there loopholes or shortcuts in saving one’s spirit from eternal hell.