Not wanting to hear the truth about our condition

I don't know about you but if I am sick, especially if it seems serious, I would like for the physician to tell me what's wrong and what my options are for treatment. I would rather know the truth about my condition so that I look at the situation realistically and to see what I can do about it.

I am sure most of you agree with me on this. But to hear the truth is not fun especially when the prognosis is not favorable or very optimistic. If there would be a way to avoid hearing the truth and for the condition to somehow go away, that would be great. But without hearing the truth about our condition, how can we get the appropriate help? Ignoring the problem will not make it disappear, unfortunately.

So we usually don't want to hear the truth because:

1. We are afraid of realizing how serious it is and the prognosis might not be favorable
2. The treatment might involve a change in lifestyle which we might not like

• We are afraid of realizing how serious it is and the prognosis might not be favorable

When it comes to physical illnesses, usually the more serious the condition like cancer, the more rigorous the treatment. The treatment like chemotherapy can be hard especially on a body that is already down from the effects of the cancer. But even after the treatment and all that can be done, the prognosis is not always favorable. 

With our disease of the soul, sin, if left untreated we will surely die just like most of the serious physical conditions. The sin disease is terminal and so if left untreated it will result in death as is written;

[23] For the wages of sin is death; Romans 6:23.

For such a serious disease which will surely result in death if left untreated, the prognosis is excellent if we are healed by the Great Physician Christ as is written;

[16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
[17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16, 17.

The healing procedure is not taxing like the treatments for serious physical conditions and the prognosis is excellent with those that are healed living forever. All that the healing procedure involves is to believe in the Physician's ability to heal us. We can not heal ourselves but He can heal us by His power working in us. All we have to do is:

[29] ...This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:29.

His work:

[13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13.

If we believe, He works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. He works in us that our will is according to His will, so that we can do what pleases Him. That's how He heals us and helps us to do His will.

• The treatment might involve a change in lifestyle which we might not like

Treatment usually involves changes to lifestyle because there might be habits which work against the healing process that might be indulged in. The only way for the process to be successful would be stop those habits and thus make lifestyle changes. Without making the changes, the effort to heal the individual will be in vain.

The same is true for our spiritual condition. Our will wants things to work our way but what if our will is working against the efforts of the Physician Christ to heal us? The two are incompatible and one will have to win but both cannot coexist. Either we hold on to our will and thus our sickness, sin, or we allow His will to be done which is to heal us.

Our will indulges in sin which is the very thing Christ is trying to heal us from. The only way is for His will to be done in our lives. But it is a choice we have to make for His will to be done and not ours in our lives. Only when our will dies and His will done in our lives can He work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. All it takes on our part for Him to work in us is to believe.

But for our will to not be done in our lives, it has to die and the only way for this to be done is by the cross as we see in the following passages:

[24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24.

To deny ourselves is to deny our will. Our will wants our way so denying it means not having our way. The cross is how the old man dies and is how our will dies. When we follow Him His will is now being done and not ours.

[20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20.

Our will dies when we are crucified with Christ but the life we live from then on is Christ living in us. We live life from then on by faith and since we are living by His power, it is not our will also but His that will be done.

So Christ hopes:

[17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; Ephesians 3:17

Dwelling in our hearts by faith is how He works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. When our will is still working in us before we are crucified with Him, it works against Him because:

[21] And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. Colossians 1:21.

[10] For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Romans 5:10.

When our will is done:

[7] ... the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Romans 8:7.

Our will is at odds with God and the only way He can heal us is for it to be taken away. We always talk about Gods will but what exactly is it?

[38] For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
[39] And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
[40] And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:38-40.

The Lord's will which works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure works for our healing because Hid desire is that all who believe on Christ will be healed and so raised up when He returns, to Eternal life. His will is our salvation. Our will works against our salvation because it leads us to sin.

His will is our salvation and therefore it is for us to not only be healed from our sins, but also to help us to stop sinning. That is the Lord's will. 

So just as not wanting to let go of darling habits which work against the healing of our physical diseases, hinders the healing process; even holding on to our will hinders our healing from sin. Only when we die with Him and He raises us by His power to a new life can His will be done in our lives which is our salvation.