“And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17)
Right up until we don’t need Him anymore, that’s how much many people need Jesus, when the healing is complete, when the food has been provided, after the trials and tribulations, the sorrow, pain and inconvenience have come to a close, they don’t need Him anymore. This is why the days we find ourselves in are of no real surprise to me, man is simply doing what comes naturally to him, looking for some form of divine assistance until the problematic situation has passed, then life can return to normal.
Science and philosophy always step in and attempt to answer the question of “why,” offering explanations for the occurrences that must not be allowed to expose the truth that there is a God in heaven who rules in the kingdom of men. (Dan. 4:17) To understand this truth is the first step in the realization of the Sovereignty of the Most High, yet few will go past that step, save for when those adverse conditions begin to appear, and seemingly cannot be altered by any but Him.
I have wondered about those nine that did not return, where did they go? Back to their families, their jobs, did they show up when they heard Jesus was in town, hoping to get some free food that day, searching for Him to abate the desires of the day again, so they could go back to their regular life. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)
If what? You turn around and leave Him after those needs are met, if you go back into the world to live your life as you see fit, not giving one thought to Him until your next “need” arrives? It’s sad to say, but I believe this is where most people who call Christ Lord live, for “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matt. 7:14) When we need Him, we expect Him to be there for us, in fact, we demand it, for has He not said, “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:8) Has He not proclaimed, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15)
But what most generally happens? We try every possible avenue to fix our own problems, we search out professionals who have been trained to respond to whatever malady we find ourselves in, and then when all else fails, and usually after asking the ever prevalent question of “Why would God allow …,” we begin to search for Him, to call upon Him to fix the problem, only so when all is well again, we can get back to our lives, lives that do not revolve around Him.
One came back.
Did he follow the Lord Jesus all the way to that fateful day on the cross, did he accept and revel in the abuse and mocking of the people around him for doing so, was he in the crowd the day the Lord was lifted back up into heaven? (Acts 1:11) Did he spend the rest of his life telling others about Jesus, showing them his leprous free skin, did he die with the name of Jesus Christ on his lips? I like to think so.
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Phil. 4:11) Those who know Jesus Christ as Lord don’t need to be healed, He has healed their soul, those who are hungry are fed by His Word, (Matt. 4:4) they have found everything they need in Him, and all they could ever want. Circumstances will come and go, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt. 6:34) But we’re not overly concerned with today, are we? How can we compare today with eternity?
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Tim. 1:12)
