Have you noticed the divide between nations, religious groups, families and political groups? Our world is polarized, filled with fear and anxiety, and broken. Spiritual battles rage around us, unseen by our physical eyes.
We need the “eye salve” of the Holy Spirit from Rev. 3:18 to grant us spiritual insight and biblical truth.
The Bible reveals in Ephesians that we “fight not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.”
Eph. 6 advises us to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Here, “wiles” means “cons.” The devil, like a con man, seeks to deceive with lies that destroy. What cons and lies is Satan, the ruler of this world, spreading today?
Again, the Bible gives us awareness: "In the last days, perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Tim. 3:1-5).
Why turn away from them? Because they deceive us with the lies of the ruler of this world. Paul warns in 2 Tim. 4:4 that listening to them leads to turning away from the truth and embracing fables.
God sent Jesus to heal the nations. As the Great Physician, Jesus alone has the remedy for sin and division. He is the way, the truth and the life. The remedy for our brokenness in nation, politics, churches and homes is to focus on Jesus Christ — the pure, unadulterated truth. Truth matters.
In Mark 7:20–23, Jesus is essentially in the operating room doing spiritual surgery upon His disciples. He explains this truth: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’”
What is wrong with the world? Why is there so much strife between nations, races, tribes and peoples? Why do relationships splinter and fall apart?
Jesus is saying: We are what’s wrong. It’s what comes out from the inside. It’s the self-centeredness of the human heart. It’s sin.
In fact, sin is like an unquenchable fire that will burn the whole house down and completely ruin individuals and families. Sin will split and make ineffective churches and destroy nations.
As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Nobel Prize recipient, said, “The line between good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart and through all human hearts.”
The Bible shows that the world isn't divided into “good guys and bad guys.” There are “better” and “worse” people but no clear line between good and bad. Due to our sin and self-centeredness, we all contribute to the world's brokenness. The only remedy is the Great Physician, Jesus Christ, who alone can remove the cancer of sin and bring healing.
The blood of Jesus Christ is the only remedy for sin, and the cross reveals God's eternal love. If I were the only sinner, Christ would have died for me — what glorious love! This restoration points to the blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus Christ, when He will fully restore humanity and creation, fulfilling Titus 2:13.
God’s glorious love must be shared with our broken world. Our lives can reflect the healing Jesus brings within us and our voices can testify to His love. We can live out God's love for all to see and be instruments of healing for our nation.
The July/August 2024 issue of the Gleaner highlights the incredible work of Adventist Health employees in our hospitals and clinics. Their mission is “living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope.”
Each year, Adventist healthcare in North America serves more than a million Americans, mirroring Jesus’ compassion and healing. I trust you will be inspired by the stories of compassion, healing and love from our Adventist doctors, nurses and staff.
