The Great Pysician
“Take the antibiotic until you feel better,” said no doctor ever! When physicians give you the medicine, instructions always include to take the antibiotic until it’s gone, whether it’s a seven or ten-day dose. Most times, you do feel better before you take that last pill, but the drug continues to work in your system to eradicate any lingering bacteria. Pastor has said before, he doesn’t like taking pills, unless it’s the “gos-pill.” No one really likes taking medicine, but we do it because we trust that our doctors are skilled and knowledgeable to work on our behalf for our good.
I’ve always heard that ‘Jesus is the Great Physician.” I can’t find that exact phrase in the bible, but it is well documented that He healed many people. Maybe it is in a Greek translation, because I did discover a name of God, Iastros, which means “physician,” even more specifically physician of children; it’s the root word for pediatrician. Isn’t that appropriate…since we ARE children of God!
When we make the choice to become a believer, we are declaring that we know we’re sick and we need a doctor. We’re open to truth and trusting God to be skilled and knowledgeable to work on our behalf for our good. In Matthew 9:12, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who needs a doctor, but the sick.” Jesus didn’t come just to perform physical, medically healing miracles, He came to save us from the curse of our own sin.
Sometimes when I’m taking prescription meds, I forget a dose. As believers, sometimes we skip our spiritual meds…we forget to pray, give thanks or ask forgiveness; but there’s no side effects if you double up. When we first come to know Jesus, we know we need His help, but then we get some scriptures under our belt and we think we’re all better…we can relax and not ‘take our meds.’ But even though we may feel better, there’s still lingering bacteria in our system. Temptations and sin will always lurk inside of us, so it is wise to always complete our full dose of Jesus. Unlike a Rx your doctor may give you that eventually runs out and/or expires, Jesus will never run out or expire. So, when the instructions say, “take until finished,” it’s not the Medicine that will run out, it will be you.