How not to be healed
Naaman, a commander of the Syrian army, was a leper and sought to be healed. "So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house o f Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger r unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean" (II Kings 5:9-10).
Naaman's healing from leprosy required only that he wash himself seven times in the Jordan. But Naaman didn't like that. He disagreed with the procedure. Why the Jordan, he asked himself, instead of some other river? And why seven times? Wouldn't once be enough? He had totally different ideas as to how his healing should take place. He wouldn't accept the prophet's order. So "Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He [Elisha] will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper" (verse 11).
Fortunately, some of Naaman's soldiers had more sense than he and convinced him of his foolishness. "And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, my father, if the prophet had bid thee to do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?" (verse 13)
So Naaman went down and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, "according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean" (verse 14).
If Naaman had had to wait until he understood the exact reason for God's order, he probably would have never been healed. But there are, in God's Church today, some spiritual Naamans. They will only accept an answer if it pleases them. If they disagree, they may decide to turn away, dissatisfied, unhappy — and prone to leaving the Church!
Where shall we go?
Christ's disciples, before their conversion, also had some doubts about certain things. They would often question Jesus, expecting some answer that would satisfy their curiosity and carnal minds.
On one occasion, the disciples and several others were totally confused when Christ revealed to them that He was "the bread which came down
from heaven." Just what did He mean by that statement? Some murmured against Him while others argued with Him.
Patiently, Christ explained: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:51).
That was the breaking point. Not only could they not understand the explanation, but they were outraged. How could they follow a man whose teachings made so little sense? "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him" (verse 66).
Does this remind you of the attitude of anyone you know? Yours, perhaps? Would you turn away from God or leave His Church because something is hard to understand?
When Jesus saw that some of His disciples left Him, He turned to the 12 and asked them: "Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life" (verses 67-68).
This is the basic, clear truth we all need to remember. If you have the same attitude, God will always be with you and protect you against doubts and fears.
Peter meant exactly what he said. During the last Passover, as Christ was washing His disciples' feet, Peter objected when his own turn came. It was unthinkable that Jesus, the Master, should wash their feet.
But Christ answered: "What I do thou Knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. . . If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me" (John 13:7-8). Notice that Christ didn't stop to explain the exact spiritual meaning of the foot washing.
And what was Peter's sudden reaction? He said to him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head" (verse 9). Are you beginning to see what God expects of you? Whether your "whys" are answered or not, the question is, "Are you willing to obey God?"
God's way, not yours
There are some things that we in God's Church do not yet fully understand. We don't always know why
God does things the way He does them. But one thing is sure: He always knows best. Let Him handle it — His way, not yours!
Some in the Church today demand that all their questions be fully answered before submitting themselves to God and His government. They can't comprehend the Church's simple faith in God's leadership and thus get into bad attitudes.
Just remember: So-called "intellect" is not required for salvation. Curiosity for the sake of pleasing your intellect — your human vanity — will only draw you away from God and His truth.
God has already clearly revealed everything you need to know and understand for salvation. You don't have to search for the answers to those "whys" — they are already made plain in the Bible. However, for the time being, God has chosen not to reveal certain things — He has chosen not to answer some of your questions — for your own good. Let Him take care of things. Don't lose your salvation by demanding that He explain everything He is doing — God has no such responsibility.
God knows best
We have come to God's Church to learn His ways — not to impose ours on Him or on others. We didn't come to His Church to reason with Him, but to surrender to Him — totally and unconditionally. We have been called to obey and serve. Servants don't argue with their masters. They simply do what the masters say. Unfortunately, some of our friends and brethren have not quite understood this fundamental truth. That's why they are no longer with us.
Individually and collectively, we have a job to do. Are you doing your part? Or are you perhaps hindered by your doubts, questions and worries? Obviously, all of us would like to see God's Kingdom come as soon as possible. We may even wonder why the waiting is so long! But God knows best. Let Him do things His way. Wait patiently, trust Him, submit your will to His — and you will truly know that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28).