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It must be difficult to be a doctor in the present day. It would be challenging to help patients that know more about medicine than you because they performed a twenty minute internet search. And then after correcting them with sound advice, they write a terrible review about your medical office for everyone to see.  

Imagine a patient being told they have a critical illness that is progressive without any chance of survival. Death is imminent, and the patient looks terrified. They don’t know how long they have. What happens to them when they die? How will their family manage upon their departure? This particular disease causes limbs to fall off, induces violent seizures, and blood clots causing heart attack and stroke. Then the doctor tells his patient, there is a cure for this fatal disease and it is 100% effective. 

The kind doctor writes the prescription and calls it into the pharmacy himself. The pharmacist confirms that this medication is so wonderful that if taken even once, the disease is completely eradicated and has no chance of infecting the patient ever again. To add to this the insurance company covers 100% of the cost. Literally, all the patient needs to do is take the medicine. The doctor is certain that this is good news for the patient and they will be relieved.

But the patient doesn’t believe in medication, so they ignore the instructions and get alternative remedies. In fact, they pay huge sums of money and spend hours of time researching how to order these alternative remedies from faraway countries. The doctor is good. The cure is simple, and life is guaranteed. But the patient is not willing. 

The same is true with eternal life given by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It is called the Gospel (good news) because the patient does not earn it, but the Physician provides it. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). God gives it out of His own goodness, and we just need to receive it. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We all have the disease of sin and it causes a variety of lethal symptoms which will eventually lead to death. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Please take the medicine while there is time, for tomorrow is not guaranteed. When you die, it will be too late to repent.  

There is another kind of patient, of course. This kind tells the physician they will take the medication for this horrific disease, but they never really do. After all, their disease has not progressed as far as others who have been afflicted. This is the kind of patient who says they are Christians, but continue to live sinful and self-righteous lives. Jesus warns: Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’ (Matthew 7:21-23). 

What would you think of a patient dying of liver failure that does not quit drinking? What would become of a patient’s marriage who professes to love his wife, but is found to love pornography even more? What will become of you continuing to live a life of sin, with only a good outward appearance? 

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be  liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says,  ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire (Matthew 5:21-22). 

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than your whole body be thrown into hell (Matthew 5:27-29).

The God of Israel is not one of several candidates running for God this year. Throughout the Hebrew Bible, He has always taught that there is one way to be saved from eternal judgment. 

Consider the Passover: Your lamb shall be without blemish…then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts… The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you (Exodus 12:5, 7, 13).  

Notice five things about the Passover. First, the lamb would be without blemish (sin). Second, the Passover Lamb had to both die and shed his blood. Third, the blood was spread on two wooden posts. Fourth, anyone who did not apply the blood would be destroyed. Fifth, God provided one way. For I the LORD do not change (Malachi 3:6). 

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ (John 1:29). Jesus Christ alone is able to take all your sins away. 

We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:20b-21). He has taken our punishment, and gives His righteousness to all who trust in Him. 

Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God’ (John 3:3). True faith causes the believer to become a new person. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). This is the good news! God loves those who place their trust in His Son no matter the sins they committed in the past. Turn toward Jesus. You will be forgiven completely. God’s guarantee of His love is what Jesus did on the cross for you. Furthermore, He guarantees eternal life by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! 

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:37-40).

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