Longing To Be Made Whole

copyright Millie Plastaras 8/5/04

Some of the saddest words ever penned were in the
book of John chapter 5. There was a man laying by
the pool of Bethesda, having a sickness he had been
enduring for 38 years. He knew that at a certain time
an angel came and touched the pool, and stirred the
waters, and the first person to enter it would be healed.

For years this man had watched others move to
the pool before He could find someone to take him there,
so he could find healing. He told Jesus, sir I have no
man to help me. Were sadder words ever written?
Jesus, no one cares for me, I have been in this
same place many years, ill and alone.

As Jesus came by that pool one day, and saw this man
lying there, and saw that man had been in that condition
a long time. He asked the man, "Do you want to be well?"

I am sure you would ask, how could Jesus ask such a thing.
But Jesus sees inside our heart and sometimes knows, even
though we say we want healing, that being sick has become
an way of life for us. Sometimes it is a place we become
all too comfortable with. We accept it as if it was an old friend.
But sickness is not our friend. We become weak
and weary and worn, and our faith becomes weakened
by the sickness we are enduring daily.

Christ recognized, unless this man truly desired with all
his heart to be healed, Jesus could not force healing upon
this man. First the desire for healing must be instilled in
the heart of the one who is sick. Remarkably this can often
be the biggest battle. Why? I cannot answer this. I have
certainly faced this in my own life. We want to be healed,
yet someplace deep in us, we are afraid if we are healed
how different our life will be. Sadly, sickness in it's own
curious way, has become a comfort zone for us.

For a person longing to be well, he has to have a desire
to live, to succeed, to feel life is worthwhile, and that God
wants us well. That He loves us ... that we are precious to Him.
We must stop thinking negatively about ourselves. WE are all
sinners, we have all failed ... as long as we are in this body,
we will fail from time to time. The secret is, not to hate ourselves,
but to learn from these times and grow, and move on.
Never to become bogged down, but to release it in prayer
and allow God to move within these times and transform
our thinking. His grace is never deserved or earned,
it is a free gift.

Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me. Christ is our strength. Only His
strength will prevail. When we are emptied out before Him,
poured out before the throne, seeking Him, longing for
Him, seeking His will, that is when His great power works
within us. That is when we are moldable, teachable,
and truly... His children. That is when we have done all
we can do, and find our sufficiency in Christ ... and then
we can stand.

Jesus told this man, Rise. A man who had been
paralyzed for 38 years is suddenly told to rise up. As
long as He kept His eyes upon Jesus, as long as
He didn't focus on his worries, or maybe it won't work,
or maybe I am not worthy. If he could only block all
that and just receive what Jesus had for him.

Jesus said "take up thy bed." This was symbolic of
eliminating old habits, of the structure we were once
used to. We leave it behind, and move into the new
place God has for us. All the old is gone, behold all
has become new.

Jesus said "walk." That was the final step for the man's
faith to take Hold. If Jesus said it, it was possible. All
He had to do was believe, and receive it. Reach out
and receive my healing. I have it here, waiting for you.

We too, must ask for healing, rise up from our bed,
and walk by faith ... day to day. We must recieve
what He has for us, believe nothing is impossible for Him,
and clear our mind of any obstacles. He is greater
than all our sin, all our sorrows, all our sicknesses
all our failures. That is why He came my friend,
to deliver you, and heal you and bring you salvation,
and hope, and eternal life. He came because
we needed a Savior!

It is all about Jesus.
Hear Him whispering to you ... now. Just receive that
sweet peace, and that healing of the spirit, mind
and body He has for you.

Step out of your comfort zone, and be all you can
be, because the Power of Jesus is working in you.
In whom, nothing is impossible. Rise up and Walk
and be healed in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Emptied out before your throne,
I find in God my eternal home.
My arms stretched high towards your face.
I receive your healing and your precious grace.

remember
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last