St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s website reports dramatic changes in cancer survival rates. For instance, in 1962 only four percent of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (cancer of the blood) survived; today, the survival rate is 94 percent. In 1962, only seven percent of children with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (cancer of infection-fighting cells) survived; today, 85 percent overcome that disease.
Many adult maladies boast similar statistics, including breast cancer and heart disease. In one way or another, we’re all beneficiaries of medical science’s incredible advances.
What if researchers, upon making their discoveries, had determined, “We’re not going to tell anyone about this. It’s personal. Who are we to impose our cure on someone else?”
Ludicrous? Of course. If someone found the cure to AIDS, or diabetes or Alzheimer’s and withheld that information, they might be viewed as murderers.
Yet everywhere we confront an equally devastating disease, yet many are chastised for offering what they believe to be the cure. This disease is not physical but spiritual: Sin. It takes many forms – lust, greed, selfishness, dishonesty, murder, abuse, etc. And we’re all afflicted. The Bible states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
The cure, according to the Scriptures, is freely available: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
But there’s just one cure, Jesus Christ. It’s not multiple-choice. Perhaps that seems narrow, but if physicians tell me there is one vaccine for the flu, or one cure for a disease, I won’t accuse them of being rigid and narrow-minded. I’ll take the cure.
Understanding Jesus provides the cure to the depravity infecting all of humanity, I’ll communicate this cure to anyone willing to consider it. Anyone can reject the cure, but I won’t be a murderer for failing to tell them about it
1 comment:
Hi, I'm just a new fan 5 minutes ago; after reading the first 2 chapters in the book "what makes a winner" book 3 I just have to search your blogsite. My Dad's condition been deteriorating past 3 years- because of COPD, years of abuse thru 1st hand smoke, and more severe 2nd hand smoke from not so good company. He has not met the Lord(yet) so that adds to the pain of seeing him live life tied to an oxygen supply he carries 24/7 and limited to move around only in a small room. He has lost all confidence to even go out of the room on his own - fearing that another attack might catch him and no one around to bring him to the hospital. I really am blest to hear your personal experience of hope - I pray my Dad will know you and the God we serve as well as I give him a copy of your book as a gift. Thanks Bob, God used you mightily thru the pen - I know this for you your writings were able to touch the issue of hope on the only true God of Hope. Keep on writing please
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