Do You Want to Get Well?

I listened to the book on tape, Listening to Prozac, recently. It was amazing to hear stories of peoples lives that have been changed because of medication. One of the stories was about a young man whose life was literally transformed by Prozac. However, he really didn't want to change, so he took himself off of the drug. His depression returned, however, he felt more comfortable with his life before Prozac. He did not want to let go off his past.

There is a great story about Jesus healing this man who was paralyzed (John 5:1-5). The man had been paralyzed for 38 years. He was next to this pool of water that supposedly had healing powers, but he never got in the water or ask anyone to help him in the water. Jesus asked him the question, "Do you want to get well?" The man said yes but that he didn't have anyone to put him into the pool. Jesus told him to get up, take up his mat and walk. The man did. Later Jesus met him in the Temple and "go and sin no more, or something worse will happen to you."

I have always connected with that story because of Jesus' question. "Do you want to get well?" Some people are very comfortable with being stuck in their disease. This may be a physical problem such as alcoholism, obesity, depression, or a spiritual disease, mainly sin. In one sense, all diseases are spiritual diseases.

The question is on the table for all of us. What is it that is keeping you and me from being all that God designed us for. He loves us regardless. But he asks the question, "Do you want to get well?"

A natural follow-up question to this is, "Are you willing to do what it takes to get well." The simple answer is the same today as it was 2000 years ago: Trust, Obey, Repent. Trust God, obey his Word, and Repent, or turn and go in a different direction from sin.

"Do you want to get well?"