Spiritual Lessons from Physical Surgery

Recently I had knee replacement surgery, and I discovered through this experience that there are many parallels between this surgery and our spiritual growth. I am seeing many ways in which my surgery is helping my relationship with God. I offer to you 6 ways in which a surgery is like our walk with God.

 

 In order to grow and become all that God wants us to be, we must:

1.    Humbly admit we have a need. 

I tried everything I could to improve my knee, but eventually I went to the doctor for it to be examined. There I learned I was “bone on bone” and the only real solution was to have a total knee replacement.  I could have denied the truth and continued to live in pain, or I could humble myself and say, “I need help.  I need someone else to do for me what will help me.  I need to go through the process of surgery in order to get better.”

I am more convinced than ever that humility is one of the most important components to a healthy relationship with God. We begin with God by humbly admitting our sin and receiving Christ as Savior.  We continue to progress with God as we walk in humble dependence upon Him. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:6). If we are humble, we get more of His grace. If we are prideful, we quench his Holy Spirit. If we are humble, there is nothing he cannot show us that we need to work on. If we are prideful, we will remain in pain and bondage.  Let us walk every day in humble reliance upon God.

2.    Get help from others. 

I needed a doctor, a physical therapist, and much help from my wife at home. If I tried to go through this alone, it would be a disaster. In the same way, God has given us the body of Christ and the community of believers to help us grow and become more sanctified. We need fellowship with others, accountability and the community of faith to help us advance in God.  The moment we are saved, God’s Word says we become a member of the body of Christ. WE are not to live in isolation, but rather in relationship with other Christ-followers.

3.    Allow pain to produce gain. 

Surgery is a painful experience. Not only the surgery itself, but also the physical therapy. As one goes through physical therapy, you want to push to the point of pain, but not so much pain that you cause further damage.  

God uses pain in our spiritual life to sometimes show us areas that need attention, while at other times causing us to depend more on his power for life and godliness. Pain in our physical body shows us that something needs attention. Pain in our spiritual life is a signal that something needs attention. If we ignore the pain, it will only get worse. If we try to cover the pain with sinful pleasure, we will suffer negative consequences.

Don’t expect growth in God to be easy.  It can be a painful process.  But allow the pain to produce spiritual gain through constantly abiding in Christ.

4.    Be patient with the process of growth.

My recovery from this surgery is slow and not as quick as I would like. It will probably be four weeks until I can walk without a walker, and six months to one year before I can actually do a normal hike. In the same way, our spiritual growth is a process.  It does not occur overnight.  Jesus spent three full years with His disciples.  Sanctification takes time, energy, effort, waiting on God, and many ups and downs.  1 John 2:12-14 likens spiritual growth to the physical growth of going from a child to an adolescent, to a mature adult.  All of this takes time.  

5.    Put our faith and trust in the only One who can ultimately produce healing. 

God he is the giver and the sustainer of life. Every breath we breathe is a gift from His grace and power. Even the healing of a small cut on one’s finger comes from the Almighty. Ultimate healing from my knee replacement surgery is by the power of the Creator of my body, Jesus Christ. 

In the same way, our salvation is from the Lord, and our sanctification is produced by a work of God’s Spirit. “As we behold the glory of God, we are being transformed from one degree of glory to the next, by His Spirit.” (2 Cor 3:18). We certainly play a part in growth, like reading the word and prayer and obedience and fellowship and stepping out in faith, etc. but we do this resting in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, who ultimately produces the character change.

6.    Enjoy the fruit that comes from obedience and abiding. 

I cannot wait until I can go on a long hike, play pickleball and ride my bicycle again. More importantly, when we go through the process of growth and healing, we will experience the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience … (Gal. 5).  

God blesses obedience. God honors His word. If we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us on a daily basis, we will experience the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and relationships. God will not be mocked, a man will reap what he sows (Gal. 6).

 

 

Reflections on 9-11 ... 20 years later!

Our country and the world was rocked and shocked on 9-11-01 when evil terrorists attacked our country, killing almost 3,000 precious souls.  We must never forget.  We must reflect and learn.  We must learn from the past. We must become better and not bitter.

 

What are some of the most important lessons to learn from 9-11?

1.     Evil and sin are real.  

So many today dismiss the reality of sin and evil.  Too many think that man is basically good.  No, we aren’t. The Bible says we are all born with a sin nature, and therefore we are all capable of terrible things, apart from the grace and power of God.  “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  We have no problem calling Hitler evil, so why is it so hard to call this evil? 

2.     This event was rooted in an evil ideology.  

That ideology is radical Islamic pride, racism and a desire to take over the world.  The secular media does not like to talk about this for fear of being called Islamophobic. But these terrorists were Muslims.  They really believe it is right to kill the infidels.  They hate our country and what is stands for.  They believe women are inferior. They believe they will be rewarded with 70 virgins in heaven one day. They follow a man of war:  Mohammad.  Are all Muslims like this?  Of course not, but the root of the terrorist’s radicalism is in the Islamic faith.  Be not deceived, this is the same group that now controls Afghanistan.  I hope I am wrong, but it would not surprise me if another 9-11 occurs in our lifetime.

3.     America is worth defending… for the sake of the world.

America certainly has some very serious sins of her own – past and present (e.g., slavery, pride, racism, materialism, abortion, drug and alcohol abuse, idolatry, etc.). However, let us be careful about the rewriting of our history and thinking that what we have in this country is not worth defending.  America was founded on Christian and biblical truths such as the “right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”, capitalism, biblical laws, democracy, giving everyone a chance, freedom of worship and speech, the value of life from the womb to the tomb, etc.  Because of this, so much good has come into and from this country.  Without the United States in WW2, it is likely we would all be speaking German today, and the evil of Nazism would not have been defeated.  Without the U.S. responding the way we did to 9-11, Osama Bin Laden would have killed many more people.  By the way, many thanks to all who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan and other places after 9-11. Why do I bring this up?  Because what made this country great is dwindling before our very eyes. We need to stand up for the good in America, and seek to restore America to the principles I mentioned above. We also need to maintain a strong military presence in this country, because evil is only increasing around the world.   

4.     The ultimate solution is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  The only solution for the problem of sin and evil is the death and resurrection and shed blood of Jesus Christ.  We have a virus far more deadly than COVID, and that is sin.  There is a 100% effective vaccine for this virus, and it is the blood of Jesus! “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

5.      Christians need to be more active in personal evangelism.

The method Jesus gave us to change the world is to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18).  “And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be My witnesses, in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).  The world is reached one heart at a time.  We will not change the world by better laws and winning wars, as much as that can help. Instead, we change the world by helping to change hearts by introducing them to the love and transforming Gospel of Jesus.  When hearts are changed, behavior is changed.

6.      Our ultimate battle is not against flesh and blood.

The biblical and Christian worldview is one that includes 3 realms:  God, man, and Satan/demons/angels.  So many are ignorant of this 3^rd dimension, that of Satan, demons and angels.  “Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).  The ultimate source of sin and evil is Satan.  All who are not followers of Jesus are under the influence of demonic spirits. We are in a spiritual battle, and that battle is getting more intense by the day.  The only way to defeat Satan and demons is through the power of the Name and blood of Jesus.  Christians, we fight spiritual forces with spiritual weapons.

7.     Prayer is still a powerful weapon of war.

After talking about the spiritual battle in Ephesians 6:10-17, the Apostle Paul says, “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” (v. 18). Prayer is how we stay in close fellowship with God.  Prayer is where we keep our heart pure.  Prayer is how we hear God’s voice.  Prayer is where we intercede for others.  Prayer is how we “pull down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).  Prayer is how we “bind and loose” (Matthew 18:18). Prayer is where we give thanks, caste our cares on Him, and maintain our peace (Philippians 4:6-7).

 

In conclusion, am I concerned?  Yes.  Am I heavy hearted at times?  Most certainly.  Are things getting worse?  For sure.  But I am hopeful because of Jesus.  I am confident that God ultimately wins.  I am motivated to stand strong.  I will not give up.  I will cling more tightly to the Word.  I need God’s Holy Spirit more than ever.  I want to be used by God to help change the world.  I believe the Word of God more than ever before.  I believe we are seeing many signs of the End Times fulfilled (see Matthew 24).

 

Let us not back down.  Let us live holy lives.  Let us submit to God, resist the devil, and watch him flee (James 4:7).  Let us join together as the body of Christ. Let us pray.  Let us believe God’s promises.  Let us help build strong and healthy churches.  Let us support one another.  Let us share the Good News of Jesus.  Let us anticipate the return of Christ. Let us live with an eternal perspective!

 

Lessons from Ravi Zacharias' Sin

I am grieved, saddened, bewildered, confused, disappointed, and challenged.  If you would have asked me just months ago, “Who would you least expect to fall into some serious sin?”  My list of people would be short, but certainly on it would have been Ravi Zacharias.  This is why the recent news of Ravi’s sins still has me in disarray.  It was hard to read the complete report from his ministry’s Board, as well as the 3^rd party that did the thorough investigation.

 

I have been reflecting on the lessons to be learned from this horrific story.  What is the Romans 8:28 in this?  What do I need to take to heart as a result of this?  What can we all learn from this? Here are my takeaways:

1.     My heart goes out to the many victims.  May God grant them the grace to heal.  

2.     I cannot imagine the long-term effects on his wife, children and grandchildren.  They will have to live with this the rest of their lives.

3.     Those who worked closely with him in the ministry are likely to struggle with false guilt and trust of leadership for some time.  I know someone who works for the ministry, and she was completely in shock over the revelations.

4.     #1-3 show that sin almost always hurts others in one way or another.  Let us stop right now to pray for all those affected by this.

5.     “He who conceals his sin will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes it shall find mercy” (Prov. 28:13).  Years ago a woman came forward with allegations.  Ravi had a “Nathan moment” (i.e., Nathan confronting King David) but denied it, lied, and ended up paying money to keep it quiet.  This only made it worse, now that the truth has been revealed.  What is done in secret will often be brought to light.  More importantly, God sees all.

6.     No one is beyond temptation and falling.  I remember Bill Bright once said, “I am only one decision away from adultery every day.” He did not mean he was flirting with an affair, but rather that he was not above any temptation or choice to sin.  No matter how long someone has walked with God or been mightily used by God, he/she must decide each day to obey the Lord and resist temptation.  In fact, the more one is used by God, the larger the target on their back.  Satan is relentless.

7.     Real accountability and protection are essential for each of us.  We all need a “friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24). This is the one who will ask the hard questions, travel with us if necessary, and with whom we can share our secrets.  When Billy Graham traveled, he never did so alone; his traveling companion would search his hotel room before he entered (and once found a woman planted to seduce him), and do everything he could to prevent him from being in a situation in which he could fall.  

8.     Though there will still be consequences for our sin, forgiveness, grace, and healing is always available in Christ … IF we come clean about our sin. To think that Ravi never did that is tragic.  With his terminal cancer about to take his life, why did he not repent before he died?  How much did the Holy Spirit trouble him about his sin? Did he just ignore numerous attempts by the Lord to bring him to repentance? How did he preach such powerful messages, while living a double life? Was his death by cancer a partial judgment for his sin, like that of Ananias and Saphira (see Acts 5)?

9.     What about those who were positively affected by his ministry over the years?  There were over 2 million positive comments on twitter when he died.  His speaking, writing, and ministry led people to salvation, strengthened many in their faith, and trained up those who are now pastors, missionaries, and apologists.  Is this all in vain?  NO!  But it certainly tarnishes his legacy.  I heard someone say, “Truth is truth, regardless of the vessel who brings it, but now his messages and books will never be viewed the same.” The publisher of his books has already taken them off the shelves; his ministry has removed his name and stopped taking donations; and the future of his ministry is uncertain as of this writing.

10.  I certainly don’t want to take the “Elder Brother” approach to the Prodigal in this (see Luke 15), or look down a self-righteous nose of judgment upon Ravi, for I am well aware that we are all “prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.”  The old phrase, “But by the grace of God, go I” is so applicable here.  The world, the flesh and the Devil are relentless in their attacks.  Perhaps the biggest lesson in this is how crucial it is that we abide in the Word, live daily in the power of the Holy Spirit, resist temptation, have at least one trusted accountability person in our life, and be an “open book” as much as possible.

11.  It is not as important how we start, or where we are in the middle of the race, but that we be transformed each day, and finish well. I want to finish well!  How about you?

12.  In my book Pastoring with Passion I have a chapter on “Passion for Purity: Fatal Flaws and Wet Blankets.”  Fatal flaws are those areas we are most susceptible to sin.  It is what Hebrews 12 describes as “the sin that so easily entangles us”.  We each have an area or two that could so easily entangle us, if we don’t keep it in check. We need to name these areas and keep wet blankets on them, lest they burn down our house and the many houses that surround us.  Be sure at least one other person knows your fatal flaw, and asks you about it on a regular basis.

13.  Though we respect and learn from human leaders, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.  If news of Ravi’s sin causes our faith to crumble, then our faith is more in man than in God.  Jesus is the only man that has ever walked planet earth and remained sinless.

14.  The Gospel of Jesus is still the best news out there.  The Gospel contains eternal forgiveness and healing at the core of our being.  The Gospel gives us a new identity from which we are motivated to live holy. The Gospel gives us the same power that raised Christ from the dead. The Gospel provides a forever family in which we can have support and encouragement. And the Gospel promises a fresh start whenever we confess and repent of our sin. The Gospel always gives hope, no matter how negative things may seem. 

15.  Our world is increasingly negative, sinful, discouraging, and far from God, which is why we need the Jesus more than ever. Learn from this situation, and never lose hope, because Jesus came to bring life and life abundantly (John 10:10), and “where sin abounds, grace even more” (Romans 5:20). 

 

I welcome your comments and insights.  Let me hear from you.