Medicine For The Soul

 

“Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord.” - 2 Kings 22:19

I don't like to take medicine, especially cough medicine. Cough medicine tends to have such an awful taste. Cough medicine that has really helped me always had a really bad taste.

Life is much like that. There are certain things that are good for us that we don't enjoy. Exercise is good for you, but most of us avoid it. Healthy food is valuable, but we gravitate towards more tasty, unhealthy food.

When it comes to our walk with God, we tend to resist the best things because they aren't enjoyable. Like cough medicine, there are certain aspects of Christian living that seems to have a bad taste, yet accomplishes so much good. Probably the best medicine for the soul is repentance.

Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of life. Repentance is turning from wrong things so you may enjoy good things. Repentance is saying “no,” to sin so you may say, “yes” to the Lord. Repentance is the u-turn that you make in life that takes you from going the wrong direction to moving the right direction

Most of us offer resistance at the very mention of the word, “repentance.” The very concept of repentance is repugnant to us. Repentance goes against the grain of our human temperament. But like medicine, the right dose at the right time produces glorious results.

The fact is that most of us want spiritual health but we don't like the repentance required to bring us that health. We'd rather remain weak and sick than to take the medicine of repentance. Yet the few who repent are the people who reach great spiritual heights and experience greater intimacy with God.

In the days of Josiah, the discovery of God's law in the temple led to a time of genuine repentance. In response to the convicting words that he heard, Josiah rent his clothes, wept and prayed. He repented. His repentance led to wide scale repentance in his kingdom. It is no wonder that the days of Josiah were considered the last glory days in Judah.

We want glory days, but not the repentance that must precede them. We want the product of revival without the process of revival.

Repentance is a subject that we often think is for “someone else.” Yet medicine is never administered by proxy. You must take your own medicine if you wish to be healthy.

Realizing that repentance is medicine for the soul, let me give you three good reasons why we need to take this medicine on a daily basis.

1. IT'S PRESCRIBED

This medicine has been prescribed for us personally by the Great Physician. You see, the Lord knows our pain and problems better than we do. His diagnosis is always accurate. His treatment always works. For our apathetic, cold hearts, He has given us a prescription: daily repentance.

2. IT'S POWERFUL

Secondly, this medicine is powerful. It is true that this medicine is not pleasing to take. Yet when it is a properly administered at the proper time, the results can be amazing. Lives are literally changed by taking this medicine. You will never soar very high without a regular dose of this medicine.

3. IT'S PROVEN

Finally, this medicine is proven. Throughout the Scriptures we find men and women who've practiced repentance. Their lives have been a testimony of God's grace. In Church history, great revivals have often begun with the personal repentance of people. For instance, on February 3, 1970, revival broke out on the campus of Asbury College. A simple 1-hour chapel service turned into an unexpected week-long revival. Testimonies of the event reveal that much of what occurred was Spirit-led conviction that led to genuine repentance among the students, staff and visitors. Lives were genuinely changed.

Repentance is the best medicine for an ailing soul. Some souls are not showing much outward signs of trouble, yet the Great Physician probes deeper than the surface. He is the One that is calling believers to a fresh walk with Him, beginning with personal repentance.

The best medicine in the world is useless as long as it stays in the bottle. If repentance is great medicine for the soul, why not take a good dose of it right now?