If we say that we
have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Imagine that you were experiencing severe pain in your arm,
so you went to a doctor and explained that every time you lift something your
arm hurts. Even at times when you are just sitting around, it starts aching and
throbbing. The doctor takes an x-ray and finds out that at some point in the
past you had unknowingly broken that arm. As it healed itself, it had healed
wrong, and as time progressed the situation only got worse and worse, until now
the pain was largely unbearable. The doctor then sits you down in conference
and says, “I want to help you. I want you to live a pain free life. I want you
to be happy and to be able to play sports and to be able to enjoy the rest of
your life without the constant aching and throbbing in your arm, what do you
think?” Your reaction no doubt would be the same as every rational human being,
“Absolutely!” Unfortunately, the doctor proceeds to explain how this joyous
thing is going to happen. “You see, I have to re-break the bone, and do surgery
on the fracture, and dig out scar tissue, and put in a metal rod, and tighten screws
into the bone. The whole process will take about six months, but after that,
you will be as good as new, no more aches and pains.” Sadly, faced with the
agony of surgery, many turn away and live in pain the rest of their lives.
In verse 8, the apostle John is sitting in conference with
you, saying, “Your life is broken. You don’t have true lasting joy, and I want
to bring that to you. But we have to do deep, cutting, soul-searching surgery.
We will have to start by slicing through your self-righteous thinking. You are
not perfect, only Jesus was. You sin. Now get it right. Healing can happen and
joy will come. Don’t walk away because you fear the pain of the scalpel. Joy is
within reach. Surgery hurts, but trust me, it‘s worth it.”
Food For Thought: What
is the benefit in v. 4 that John mentions will come from this “soul-surgery”?
What realization must we come to in v. 8, before we can get the benefits of v.
4?
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