She was lying on the bench, and a foul smell
surrounded her. Her leg was wrapped in soiled cloth with festering sores
visible on the exposed parts. Inside, I learned she had diabetes, and her foot
ulcer was now rotting away. She had been on herbal treatments and now presented
at the hospital when it was too late to save the foot. I ordered that the patient be
referred to the orthopaedic surgeons for a life-saving amputation. I feel pity
for those who come like that. Something could be done if they come early. But
perhaps because of ignorance (but she is a lecturer) or fear of costs (but now
the money is forced to come out for a far less acceptable outcome), or for some
other cause the condition is left too late. After many rebukes, the
stiff-necked man will be broken incurably, without any warning. Is 55:6, 7(ESV) “Seek
the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have
compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Are you like this woman? No, I don’t mean
“Do you have Diabetes and have left off the right treatment too late?” but, “Do
you have sin which you are treating every other way other than by repenting and coming to God in
humility?”. Sin and sickness have parallels.
Some things
cannot be reversed after they have gone on for too long. Some relationships
have been shattered because pride was nurtured for so long, forgiveness withheld by nursing wounded egos. Genuine repentance sacrificed on the altar of “How
will I be seen as weak?” Some punishments have become inevitable because of
delayed repentance 2Chr36:15, 16 (ESV)
The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his
messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling
place.But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and
scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until
there was no remedy. Oh, don’t think
this is Old Testament, and that such doesn’t happen in the New Testament. Jesus
Christ Himself cried out saying,
“Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things
that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you,
when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem
you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your
children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you,
because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Lk 19:42-44(ESV) Be warned..If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will
be crushed and never recover.
Earlier in the day, I had met a young albino man
with lesions on his face. They had changed colour, and being a doctor, I knew he
had a real risk of cancer. He had to act
now. We were alone in the shop, and as I looked him in the eye, I urged him
to get to the hospital this month. Not next. He thanked me. I hope and pray he
takes action. Sadly, the woman with Diabetes strongly rejected the suggestion to
go to the Orthopaedic Hospital. Urgent action is needed for her life’s sake. You
also take action; deal with sin in
repentance before it devastates you. Sin is a deceiver, and
hardens all those it deceives. Prov 29:1(KJV) He, that being often reproved
hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be
destroyed, and that without remedy.
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