The Balm We All Need: How Spiritual Healing Begins with Confession

Sin Always Spreads— Until the Savior Steps In With Spiritual Healing

Some weeks back, our boxer/beagle (some might say bogle) mix, Belle, had some redness around her eye. Initially, it didn’t look that concerning, particularly since she’s always dealing with allergies of other types. So, we kept watch over it for several days, but it just seemed to get worse. We took her to the vet, who gave us some drops to put in her eye that would hopefully clear it up. But after a week, it was nearly the same. To the vet we went again, and we were given a different drop – but with the same result. Belle’s vet then sent us to a specialist. After an hour or so of testing and examining, some bad news came. Belle has an unknown auto-immune issue, and her retina was detaching – and she’d already lost significant vision.

While Belle is a dog, we still care for her as God commands us to do for all his creation. So when we heard this news, it was pretty concerning. This doctor gave us a few pills and a few new drops to try. We were told things could range from this issue healing itself to her possibly having to have her eye removed, or worse, she might have cancer that could have devastating effects. Sad news for sure, with a bit of shock too. So Sheila and I processed that a bit and resolved we’d diligently administer these medications, have her eye removed if we had to, and just wait for more news.

For the following week, we gave her those 3 pills every day and those 5 drops. Initially, there wasn’t much change. But within four or five days, we could see the swelling going down a bit. Then the doctor called and said there was no infection, so it was an auto-immune issue, & she was happy with the progress that had been made. Within a few days, Belle was back in the office with wonderful news. The doctor was shocked to see Belle’s vision being restored and her symptoms going away. Now, Belle has another appointment in a few weeks, and she will likely need some medication for the rest of her days, but we were grateful to hear she was healing.

You know, if you replaced Belle with a person and her eye ailments with sin, this is the story of mankind. Sin is a dangerous issue that, when not addressed, corrodes our souls. On the surface, it might look like nothing serious. We might even do some things to cover it or its effects. Or we might even learn to live with the outer symptoms. But sin is never stagnant in our soul when unconfessed, and it is always malignant. James 1:14-1 tells us, “14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire, when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Christian, this Easter, I want to call you up to a time of confession. Christ has died for you, so that the ointment of his forgivness might heal your soul. Turn to Him & repent, because while you may be saved, your sin has devastating effects on you and your family, which you cannot control. He’s ready to heal and forgive – turn to Him.

Join us this Easter as we celebrate what he’s done. Whether it be our special good Friday service, Easter Sunday, or any other time we gather this month, be here. And join us as we worship the balm to our sickness, the healing to our disease – Jesus Christ.

See you there,

William