Medical technology has advanced astronomically in the last few years. We are blessed to have for our use many types of tests and scans that can detect potential serious health problems that can then be treated. Our physicians can order for us: an MRI, or a CAT scan. If needed, heart issues can be detected by electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and heart catherizations. The list of potential lifesaving scans gets longer as the years progress. Some of the tests and scans that our doctor orders may be a little scary and uncomfortable. However, these scans often can save our lives.
I believe Christ followers need to be concerned about their spiritual health. Just as we should not ignore our doctor’s recommendation for those physical scans we should be careful to obey the Bible’s prescriptions for a spiritual examination of our heart. The first scan we should take is the faith scan. 2 Cor. 13:5 tells us: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified”. Do we have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ? Is He our Lord and Savior? Is our faith not just a mental assent to the truths of the gospel, but a possession of Jesus Christ Himself? Another scan we should take is the love scan. Peter had failed the Lord by denying Jesus 3 times. After the resurrection, Jesus gave Peter a test on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He asked Peter 3 times if he loved Him. Peter said yes three times. The Lord told Peter to show it by feeding His sheep. How strong is our love for the Lord? Perhaps one more scan will help us to maintain our spiritual health. Let’s call it the sin scan. The Corinthian believers were being selfish and creating disorders at the Lord’s Table. The Apostle Paul wrote to them and said: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged” (1Cor. 11:28,31). Do we have any lingering sins that need to be confessed and forsaken?
As this old year ends let us be sure to follow the Bible’s prescriptions and do those important heart scans.
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