"A Certain Man"

 "And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?" (John 5:5-6 KJV) 

  "The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over." (Proverbs 4:18-19 NLT)

 We might look at this with a little humor, thinking that Jesus might have presented this man with a question that was remarkably silly; but in reality, this is really no different than any normal sin, whether it be the addition to a substance, the habit of lying, or even a compulsive sexual behavior. Nothing that we do ever seems to work to effect the change; it is as Proverbs 26:11 says, "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness." 

 It might seem unfair to cast judgment upon this certain man, having been helplessly lost for over 38 years, it is obviously beyond his control to do anything about his condition. I myself have often joked about what I might have done, if I were in his situation; saying that I would have crawled to the edge, and when the water was stirred, I would have thrown myself over the edge and into the water. If it only that easy! 

 On the other hand, Jesus was asking a question that required an answer; a yes or no answer! You have to decide! This is a choice between you and the Lord, where the Lord says, Will you be made whole, or do you want to stay in your sin? Remarkable question, but it is remarkably questioned! Yes Lord, but I have this thing, you know, this thing I just can't let go; it is really not my fault, and it really never goes away! 

 I really don't think that was the question, of why you can't be made whole; the question was much more personal and to the heart, Will you be made whole? Basically pretty simple, if you get right down to it: Jesus is simply saying, Will you allow me to make you whole...

"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7 KJV)