“What’s Wrong?”
“What’s Wrong?” is a question we use all the time. Maybe someone looks sad, tired, or sick, so we ask what is wrong. What do you do when someone asks you this question—do you tell them? Usually we don’t—we usually say, “nothing” or “I’m O.K.” Perhaps we throw them a bone and say, “Just a little tired” or something like that. We don’t like to show our weaknesses too much. Maybe with family or close friends we will say when something is wrong.
- Something Is Wrong—Admit it!
—Are you feeling O.K.? (Dealing with “guilt issues”) --admit it. That’s what a parent wants, right? If you break the window, admit it. There is a right and a wrong way to deal with guilt. The wrong way is to deny it. Have you tried these different ways:
1. bury it deep down inside
2. blame someone else
3. point the finger at someone worse
4. claim it isn’t fair.
—The act of ignoring the facts doesn’t make them go away. Don’t lie to yourself—
There is a right way to deal with guilt issues: Go to your Father and admit it. We call this confessing our sin. God wants us to come to him and confess our sins to him—God wants us to admit that there is something wrong.
At this point, a person might wonder—Has God turned his face toward me . . .
. . . or has God turned his back on me?
God’s message to his people through Hosea was stronger than battery acid. God said that he was out of there! God would remove himself from them—showing them his back. Why? They repeatedly went after other things and didn’t make the Lord #1 in their lives. When they would “turn to God,” they would just talk the talk, they wouldn’t walk the walk. They would talk a good game, but they wouldn’t carry through on it.
We do this sometimes, too. We can talk the talk, but sometimes our walk is weak. We stumble sometimes in our walk. We forget to take the flashlight along sometimes. When we are all alone, sometimes the temptations prove too much, and we fall. Something is wrong. Are you dealing with “guilt issues” right now? Deal with them the right way—something is wrong—admit it!
Hosea 5:15-6:3
15 Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt.
And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek
me." 1 "Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to
pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our
wounds. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will
restore us, that we may live in his presence. 3 Let us acknowledge
the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun
rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like
the spring rains that water the earth."
Deal with guilt the right way—something is wrong—admit it! We don’t want to see God’s back as he walks away. If God would be gone from our lives, we would be in misery. We need to go beyond words each time—each day. God doesn’t just want talk. God doesn’t just want mouths—he wants hearts. What’s wrong? We have heart trouble. Go to the doctor—“press on.”
- Something Is Wrong With Me—Admit Me!
—Why I need to be admitted to a Hospital (if not a Mental Institution)—Heart trouble! The Doctor will see you now. When discussing surgery, I I have heard it is good to always look into the face of your surgeon (seek his face)
—Prognosis: radical invasive surgery
“Going under the knife” We have gone under the scalpel of the cross
—Bad news, good news (which do you want first?) (need surgery, but the prognosis is good following)
Your Doctor has “Healing Hands”
—You can be absolutely sure that you are cured
—Look into his face, He likes you. (Aaronic blessing, apple of God’s eye)
Post-op
—Your recovery will be swift, you will feel “renewed” (death to life)
The pain lasts a short time (only a few days)
—The Doctor will see you on an “out-patient” basis (go back to keep hearing the good news—you are all better. God has healed you—believe it!
—Take your “meds” God’s prescription: RX is the Bible, devotions, privite reading, + prayer You will feel better.
—Your medical treatment is guaranteed 100%
Is the sun coming up tomorrow? Will spring bring rains to Boise? As sure as the sunrise tomorrow is God’s love for you.
Guaranteed because of the 3rd day. (meant to emphasize the shortness of time, from our perspective, the “third day” has tremendous meaning. Isn’t it ironic—because of the third day, God has restored us, so we will live with Him forever. Blessings on your week!