Jeremiah 8: 20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
This is wellness Sunday. Think back. It’s hard to remember because we’ve just gotten used to it. If you taped old television shows and go back and watch them you don’t see all that many commercials about health care. Now days they are everywhere and it takes longer to hear about the side effects of medicine than it does what illnesses they help. Health care is almost in disaster. It’s a concern for all of us. The health of the body is important especially to a Christian. We need to stay in good shape so we can better serve the Lord.
As we age we’re more vulnerable to health concerns. It takes more maintenance the older we get. Breakdowns bring limitations. If we have bad eyes we can’t read the Bible. If we have bad ears we can’t hear the Word preached. There are things to help these conditions so we can serve in a greater capacity. We can pray even if we can’t talk and we can still hear the voice of God even if we can’t hear. God supplies and reminds us that we don’t have to be in perfect physical health to serve him.
Our spiritual health is important too. Jeremiah saw able bodied people who once tried so hard to serve the Lord. Isaiah saw a people getting spiritually sicker day by day. When your health starts to go downhill you do something about it. You go to the doctor. You might have to sit and wait in an office for hours to be seen by the doctor. God is always on duty. Go to him.
Jeremiah saw the people concerned about all sorts of things but they had quit praying. They didn’t go to the synagogue. They had become material minded. They forgot about the Great Physician and what pleases him. Even old wicked King Nebuchadnezzar gave glory to God. He saw what happened with Daniel in the den of lions and the three Hebrews who were thrown in the fire. All were untouched because God took care of them.
America is the butt of jokes these days. Nations no longer see us as servants of God. The Bible tells us that righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people. We can blame others but you and I are part of the blame. Our churches aren’t in the health they used to be. Lots of people used to serve God but they have backslid on him. We change our physical health by doing certain things. We can do the same spiritually. We cannot blame others. Look inside. If most others backslide it doesn’t mean you and I have to. Don’t take the health of your soul for granted.
How is your health today? Do you pray like you should? Do you read the Bible like you should? Like you used to? What you used to do doesn’t help you today. It helped yesterday. You take your medication as you should don’t you? You brush your teeth daily. You take a shower regularly. You don’t ignore the physical side. When something happens spiritually, go the doctor—Dr. Jesus. He’s in 24/7. His office is always full yet there is no waiting. Somehow he sees to it that we all get the same attention. One doctor can take care of all things. Do what he says. Don’t try to be his assistant.
Take a health assessment of your soul. How is your relationship with him? How is your spiritual eyesight? Are you tuned into God or the devil? A diet of the devil’s food will poison us. The Word is more precious than our daily food. Don’t resist it. Don’t make excuses. Go to the spiritual mirror, take a look, and do what needs to be done to make you whole. The only way to be better is come to the Doctor.
There is a balm in Gilead. There is a Physician there. He’s able to help.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 