How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation.

Hebrews 2:3

I grew up in Houston, Texas and for one year of high school, I attended a rather elite private school.  This is the same school George Bush attended a few years ahead of me.  If asked, people who promoted the school would no doubt say it was all inclusive.  My experience told me differently.  Oh, it was inclusive if you dressed the correct way, made the top grades and fit the pattern created by others ahead of me.  Unfortunately, I didn’t fit the pattern and I had no desire to do so.  Needless to say, I didn’t fit in, I didn’t find my year there to be welcoming nor did I find the school to be very inclusive.  I’m not faulting the school, I simply had no desire to fit the mold and play the game.  Inclusive implies that we keep all the parts, the ones we agree with and the ones we don’t.  What does this have to do with salvation?

Recently, I heard a sermon entitled “Pain and Suffering.” The pastor presented reasons why mankind suffers and why good people suffer and what to do about suffering.  And it was good stuff.  But the hope he offered about suffering was somewhat limited to our future in heaven.   And that struck me as limiting the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ to simply a ticket out of hell and into heaven and that’s no small thing.  Certainly not standard issue stuff, to be sure, but His atonement was for so much more.  He took our sins so we could live our lives here on earth without condemnation.  He broke down the barrier between us and God so that we could have a relationship with Him.  He took our sicknesses and our pains so that we wouldn’t have to carry them – here on earth.  Remember when Jesus prayed that God’s will would be done here on earth as it is in heaven?  That’s huge.  There is no sin, sickness, pain and disease in heaven.

Jesus saved us.  The word saved is the Greek word “sozo” which means to be whole-physically, mentally and spiritually.”  It includes healing for our bodies as well as forgiveness for our sins.  All inclusive, if you will.   Here and now on earth with a future eternity in heaven.  I won’t need physical and mental and spiritual healing when I get to heaven, I will be whole there, I need those things here on earth.  And Jesus provided for them by taking them on Himself when He went to the cross.  It’s the total package,  healing is not an add-on, it’s included in salvation. I believe this salvation gives us hope here on earth.  Hope that though pain may last for a season, it’s not meant to be a permanent guest.  Though sickness may come, the price for my healing, the price for your healing has been paid in full.  All inclusive.

What can I say Jesus except Thank You. Those words seem so small in comparison to what You have done for me.  I am so grateful for the promise of heaven and all that it offers me.  I am so grateful that You were willing to take upon Yourself, not only my sins, but my sickness and diseases as well.  Thank You for the hope that offers me here on earth.   I look forward to the day I spend eternity with You in heaven and I look forward to the day my healing comes here on earth.  May Your will be done in my life on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.

I would love to hear from you. Please let me know if i can be praying for you as well.

pic credit: national.cc