18th October 2021
Do not enter if you are ill!
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
‘DO NOT ENTER IF YOU ARE ILL!’ The warning was posted on my doctor’s surgery door. It amused me as he would be out of a job if the only people he saw were healthy individuals. Of course, the sign was to prevent the spread of infection to others, and I have no doubt that the doctor has an alternative arrangement for those who are ‘ill’. Nonetheless the sign should have had some qualifying phrase to give reassurance to those patients who are sick and contagious. As it stands the notice, quite unintentionally I am sure, denotes a lack of care and concern.
How blessed are we that our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, has no edict that we cannot approach Him unless we are already completely righteous and free from sin! On the contrary, He invites us to come to Him just as we are, and with infinite grace He tends us with the forgiveness of our sins and the cleansing of our hearts by His precious blood. He listens attentively to us and never looks at the clock – He understands our problems and has the solutions in hand. He has no need of MRI scans or X-rays – but looks directly on our hearts (1Samuel 16:7), and He only has good news for us.
The only requirement Jesus asks of us is to trust and believe Him. We are not His patients – we are God’s children, whom He loves. He blankets us with His love and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, as Psalm 147:3 says, ‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.’
Jesus tells us to come to Him with our burdens and concerns – no matter how great or small. He waits to hear from us 24/7 – there are no waiting lists, no surgery hours, and constantly engaged phones – we do not need to book an appointment. We have a constant appointment with the Creator of the universe.
We are blessed to have the wonderful service of doctors and clinicians; we are indebted to them for their dedication to our wellbeing and preservation of life. However, the great Physician is the only one who absolutely guarantees an eternal life free of pain and sickness. The sign on His surgery door reads, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).
Prayer
Our loving Father, thank you so much for your infinite love and patience with us. You are our great God, and we praise you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Study by Irene Wilson
About the writer:
Irene Wilson is a Deaconess in the Watford congregation of Grace Communion International, and also serves on the Pastoral Council.
Local congregation:
Gracecom Watford
St. Peter’s Church
61 Westfield Avenue
Watford, Herts.
WD24 7HF
Meeting time:
Saturday 11am
Local congregational contact:
George Henderson
Email: watford@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church