Are you spiritually sick? – Don’t stay stuck in bed

In Mark 2:1-12, four men were helping their friend, who was bound to a bed because he was “sick of the palsy” or paralyzed and unable to walk, get close to Jesus. It was obvious to everyone in the house that the man was sick and had a physical need. However, Jesus addressed the man’s need that wasn’t so obvious by saying: “Thy sins be forgiven.” The religious leaders questioned how he helped the man. Jesus responded by saying: “Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?” In other words, Jesus asked which sickness is more critical to address, his spiritual sickness or his physical sickness.

A couple of years ago, the COVID-19 virus changed the world’s approach to being healthy. While receiving a vaccine shot can minimize the symptoms, there is no cure for the COVID-19 virus. As a result, the primary focus of attention is on the physical, mental, and social well-being of men, women, and young people. While it is vital to do what we can to maintain a healthy body and mind, we must not overlook or neglect our greatest need, which is obtaining spiritual health for our souls. Sin is a sickness, and forgiveness of sins is the only way to become spiritually healthy. Sin sickness is the consequence of the fallen nature we inherited by the disobedience of Adam: “by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” – (Romans 5:12). Jesus Christ, our Savior, is a type of physician, who died on the cross and shed his blood to provide every patient in the world with a cure for their sin sickness. He made the perfect diagnosis because he came to supply our most important need, which is spiritual. He provided a final and complete remedy because “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin,” (1 John 1:7), and He paid the bill (price) for our sins, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:14)

However, there are three kinds of “patients” whom Jesus cannot heal of their sin sickness: 1) Those who do not know about Him. 2) Those who know about Him but refuse to trust and obey Him to receive the remedy for their sickness, and 3) Those who will not admit that they are spiritually sick and need Him. The first step toward receiving healing for your sin sickness is admitting that you have a spiritual need and that you must do something about it. Acts 2:38 is the treatment for all who are spiritually sick: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

While many are blessed with physical health to rise out of their bed every day, they are still sick with sin and stuck in their spiritual bed. By telling the lame man to “Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house,” Jesus healed the lame man of his physical sickness, in addition to forgiving him of his sins. In like manner, don’t stay stuck in bed any longer; it is time to acknowledge that you’re sick and seek to make an appointment with Jesus Christ to receive a shot of the Holy Ghost, and be spiritually healed.