Bob D
(24 March 2009)
"Faith and Virtue"
In Mark 5:25-34 a certain woman had an issue of blood for twelve years. We are all individuals in the eyes of God.
She
had a problem. She was trying to stay alive. What made this even worse
was in her physical dilemma she was also wandering around in
discouragement because no Doctor could help her, and she spent all of
her money. Physically ill, broke ( no money) and discouraged. I know
what it is like to be so sick and helpless. Thank the Good Lord that we
serve a God that deeply cares for us.
She
had no control over her issues. Sound familiar? What do we do when we
have to sit in a hopeless dilemma? Stay discouraged or have faith
in Jesus Christ. God puts us in these dilemmas on purpose. We are then
forced to make a decision.
Since we are so close to the
rapture, this particular scenario has been taking place at an
increasing rate because Jesus Christ does not have much time to do what
He wants to accomplish with His children.
After twelve
years Jesus Christ was walking through her home town, and in
desperation she plunged her way through the crowd and touched His
garment. God sees our discouragements. "Casting all your care upon Him;
for He careth for you." 1st Peter 5:7.
I like it when
the Bible says, " For she said, if I may touch His clothes, I shall be
whole." The word "may" implies a possibility. She understood the
authority that Jesus Christ had/has because many people were getting
healed through Him.
All things are possible through Jesus Christ wherever we are, if it is in keeping with His will for our life.
She
understood that anything was possible through Jesus Christ. Not only
could this certain woman see the possibilities, but she used the word
"whole" which means completion. Keep in mind she was probably in
despair for twelve years. Faith in Jesus Christ rather than
discouragement is always the answer. God lets us despair so we will
turn to Him in faith. Most people choose sin as opposed to belief in
God. This is our free will. When God puts me through a testing period,
there always seems to be that space of choice. I can choose good or
evil.
The Bible says, she felt in her body a healing
taking place. Her faith in Jesus Christ changed her discouragement (a
broken person) into healing (a whole person).
Our
Lord Jesus Christ and the woman knew at the same time that a healing
took place. "And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had
gone out of Him"...Mark 5:30. When a true transaction of moral
excellence and righteousness takes place from God to man, both will
know.
Notice there was interest among both parties. The
woman, " Felt in her body" and Jesus asked," Who touched my clothes? "
God desires to be good to His children and to express His virtue in our
spirit. Peter says..."Add to your faith virtue"...2nd Peter 1:5. I can
see why after reading this story.
This does not have to
happen in a physical healing. We could have a mental, emotional or
circumstantial problem. Through our faith God will express His virtue,
because He is good by nature.This is what God desires to do.
He
asked a second time," Who touched me? " All those people were around
our Savior and Jesus was interested in two things. Who did my goodness
go into and where is this person? Remember virtue left Jesus, went into
the woman and healed her.
As Jesus Christ looked around
they both met face to face. Jesus Christ really does desire to meet us
face to face. He wants our full attention. When God advances us to this
level through His goodness we will feel compelled to tell Him the
truth.The Bible says, "The woman fearing and trembling, knowing what
was done in her, came and fell down before Him and told Him all the
truth." Mark 5:33.
That sounds like how we are going
to relate to Jesus Christ after the rapture of the Church. We will be
in the presence of His Goodness and giving an account of our life.
The
Goodness of God with fear and trembling in the same story. When she
experienced the Goodness of God, fear and trembling took place in her
life with complete honesty about her past.
Even
if the most hardened skeptics read this story, they could not possibly
get around the woman's faith, unless these people feel the account is
some kind of a fairy tail.
Faith is the vehicle to the
grace of God." For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man
should boast." Eph.2:8-9. Jesus told her, " Daughter, thy
faith hath made thee whole."If this certain women did not step out in
faith, she probably never would have experienced the virtuous healing
of Jesus Christ in her body. We need to trust God. There is no
mathematical substitution for this biblical principle.
God
will not allow anybody to approach Him through intellect. He knows more
than we do. A five year old child could understand simple belief in
Jesus Christ; however a 70 year old elder might get confused.
When
all this was said and done Jesus said, " Go in peace, and be whole of
thy plague." Jesus wanted her to be at peace. God desires us to walk in
peace because Romans 15:33 says, " Now the God of peace be with you
all."
Peter tells us to seek peace and ensue it. God
allows us to war through all these problems because when we get peace
and walk in it, we won't take it for granted.The fallen angels did in
eternity past.They had peace in Heaven and chose war. There is
something about being in turmoil and experiencing the peace of God.
If
anyone reading this article did not accept Jesus Christ as their
personal Savior, know that He is good by nature, only having your best
interest in mind.The more we step out in faith, the more God will grant
His virtue to us. I cannot help but think that one of the reasons so
many Christians are looking forward to the rapture is because they will
meet Jesus Christ face to face and see how good our Savior is, and
experience His virtue.
Bob D.