In my dad’s family there were seven children, five boys and two girls. I never knew the names or faces of most of my cousins who lived in faraway states. Suppose three of these cousins heard that I was suffering from deep depression and was deteriorating mentally, physically, emotionally and financially. They then contacted me and made some unbelievable offers of loving care. They promised they would come and stay with me and take care of my house and yard, clean and cook and take care of my health all without any pay. They would also listen to my lonely and hopeless fears and promised to never leave me alone. If that weren’t enough, they would take me back to their home when things were better. I would probably be very skeptical of people I’d never met and assume they were trying to get my money and house.

When asked why they would do such a loving thing to a stranger, they might simple reply, “You are family and you are in need.” Of course this scenario is hypothetical and outlandish since it is completely opposite of my real situation in which I have a loving family and loving brethren.

Nevertheless, it might sound vaguely familiar when we move into the spiritual realm. Far too many people are spiritually bankrupt and hurting. Even those who are blessed with health, wealth, beauty and influence will ultimately face death (Ecc 5:15). We have all sinned (Rom3:23) and were God’s enemies (Rom 5:10). We are all wasting away physically (2 Cor 4:16) and without hope and without God when left to our own devices (Eph 2:2).

However, it doesn’t have to end that way. There are three beings who long to come into people’s life and heal save their soul. Jesus once said, “Here am I. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me” (Rev 3:23). He also declared, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him (Jo 14:23). The third helper is the Holy Spirit who lives within Christians and provides strength in times of need (vv. 16-18) (Eph 3:16). Why would the three of them provide such loving care? Because they love us (Jo 3:16) and want us to come back into their heavenly family (Jo 14:1-3). The whole New Testament is full of ways they will heal our spiritual depression and make us whole again (Lk 15:11-24). They will never leave us (Heb 13:5) and ultimately take us to our forever home (Rev 21:1-4).              

   -Jim Bailey

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