Luke 17:13-19 (NLT)
He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
Can you imagine if Jesus Christ walked the streets of your town today? Filled with hurting, broken people, it would be all He could do to heal all the sickness and devastation that the Lord encountered. Homeless people who have no real grasp on reality. Hospitals full of disease that need the healing touch of the Great Physician. The ramifications of His Presence would be staggering. The individuals whose corrupt minds are psychologically prone to violence filling the walls of prisons to overflowing calling to Jesus Christ as He passed them by to be released from the demons that lead them to violence. A world pleading to be released from the sin-generated devastation that is attacking their minds and bodies calling on the One who can release them from the prison their life has become. There would physically be no way for Jesus Christ in the form of a man could touch this world in such a way. However, Jesus Christ chose to endure the bloody beating for your healing (I Peter 2:24) and allowed Himself to be brutally crucified for your salvation. It was complete! Jesus said so! (John 19:30)
There is a dangerous trend in the church today. Christians in search of a “fix” rather than a cure! Rather than pressing in and pushing faith to the limit to meet the Lord, people settle for a quick fix or encounter with God through His Spirit on Sunday morning or a weekly prayer meeting to obtain just enough “grace” and “mercy” to carry them to the next time they can be together. However, this is contradictory to the image of completeness that Jesus Christ displayed in His Word. The countless stories of healing all concluded with the people being released and moving ahead in their newly reclaimed lives. There are no accounts of people returning to the Lord because their healing wore off and they needed another “fix”. If it is not in God’s Word, then it is not likely His Way. An addiction is the condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something.
Sunday morning “fixes” are for those who have not yet fully experienced the Presence of God in their lives and must receive what they need from another. Their fixation is with the church, the preacher or the music but their love affair with Jesus Christ is not fully developed and faith is misplaced. Jesus Christ is looking for those who have been set free to take advantage of the opportunity to know Him more! He is looking for the ones who will return to give thanks and glorify Him for the wonderful miracle of salvation and healing that they have experienced. If it wears off, it is not complete. It is a fix and can easily be replaced with a new habit that is more powerful! But for those who have experienced Jesus Christ face-to-face and are in a love affair with Him, the details of church pale in comparison to every single moment available to worship Him, love Him, thank Him and praise Him. Has church become your fix? Characteristically those who use church as a fix have problems continuing in faith outside of it. Their faith is maintained by the men and women of the church who are called to serve just like them rather than the completeness that empowers them to also become the ministers God has called them to be. A selfish standard that consumes any spiritual growth and halts purpose-driven lives if there is an interruption of service. Jesus Christ is the cure! He is the Healer! He is your Completer! Jesus is not a fix, He is the cure!
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
You don’t need a fix today! No man can ever do for you what Jesus Christ did for you when He saved you and healed you! Make your life a platform of praise that emanates the Glory of God through steadfast faith and endurance. Let nothing interrupt your pursuit of the characteristics and qualities of Jesus Christ from the One who can reveal it all to you! Enjoy your church family, Christian friends but seek from the Lord! You will not be disappointed! Victory awaits those who are able to run the course without interruption right into the Arms of Jesus!
