MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY

There is a story in the Book I have come to love since that world changing day in 1978.

It seems there was this commander in the army of Abram. He was victorious in all his battles, a mighty warrior, and highly regarded by his king.

His name was Naaman, and it seemed he had it all, but he had a skin disease.

A while back, a band of Arameans had gone into a village in Samaria and captured some of its inhabitants and sold them as slaves.

Naaman had a slave girl he had bought from this band.

One day, the slave girl told Naaman’s wife, “There is a prophet of the most high God in Samaria who performs mighty wonders. Your husband should go to him and be healed.”

Naaman went to his king to ask for some time off. He told him what the servant girl had told him.

The king granted his request and even wrote a letter to the king of Israel, telling him to cure his commander, Naaman.

When the king of Israel received the letter, he was terrified. “I can’t heal a man,” he cried out.”This king if Aram is trying to start a war with me. What can I do?”

Elisha, the prophet the servant girl was speaking of, heard about the king’s troubled state, and sent him a message to send Naaman to him.

Naaman came to Elisha’s house, and Elisha sent a servant out to tell Naaman to go dip in the Jordan River seven times.

“Where is the prophet,” Naaman asked.”Why can’t he come out and do the thing to heal me?”

He was enraged. Didn’t Elisha know who he was? Aren’t there better rivers, cleaner rivers in Damascus? Why did he have to go into the Jordan River?

One of his servants asked him, “Master? If the prophet had asked you to do some big thing, wouldn’t you have done it? Maybe you should do what he said.”

So Naaman did. And he was healed. 2 Kings 5.

You, my friend, keep asking for evidence, physical evidence, that God is real. If Jesus could appear before his disciples after his resurrection, why can’t he appear before me right now?

I don’t think you really want that, though, do you? You would rather he not be true so you can continue as the god in your life.

But, just as Elisha made the rules for Naaman, Jesus made the rules for us.
“You must be born again.”
“Without faith, it is impossible to please God.”
“If you love me, you will keep my commands.”

Naaman could have gone back to his home, carrying his disease with him.

But he didn’t. He listened to his servants.

Maybe, in your scenario, I am your servant.

Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet, believe.