X-Rays & Hearbeats (Ps 27:4) – Running After Papa

Psalms 27:4 (NIV) “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ps 27:4). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

I had a friend years ago who was studying to be a Chiropractor. As we looked at my x-rays, I asked him how do they see small fractures, dislocations, or any other abnormality. I was surprised at his answer. “We look at hundreds and hundreds of normal x-rays. Then when one comes that is not normal, it’s easy to spot. In the same way, they are trained to listen to hundreds and hundreds of heartbeats through the stethoscope so that when they hear one that’s abnormal, it’s easy to catch it.”

Isn’t that a great picture of a spiritual truth? With regard to my own transformation into His likeness (who is the only normal X-ray) I need only look at Jesus, to “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord“, hundreds of times, to know what the standard is. When I KNOW the normal X-ray, then I easily spot those “abnormalities” in my own life.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 16 (NIV) But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (2 Co 3:16-18). Grand Rapids: Zondervan

Transformation into the likeness of Jesus is the goal. In order to do that, I have to get rid of all the “abnormalities”, all the crap, a.k.a. SIN, in my life. An unconfessed sin in my heart is very much like a hairline fracture. If I don’t heal it, it will get worse, causing more pain and eventually could lead to other, more costly and painful, issues. God is so cool! I love how everything in nature sings his name and proclaims truth about Him.

In order to heal my “fractures”, I have to confess my sin to Him.

1 John 1:8-9 (NLT) 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation. “Text edition”–Spine. (2nd ed.) (1 Jn 1:8-9). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

The crucial part of that step is to confess it in brokenness and true repentance. The Book of James says we should turn our laughter to mourning and my joy to gloom and humble myself before the Lord (James 4:8-10).

Father,

I am so thankful that you are the perfect example… the “normal X-ray” for me to learn from! I pray that your revealing light will shine its light in my life – in all the nooks and cranny’s exposing those “hairline fractures” and those “abnormal heartbeats”. Father God, break my heart over my sin. Show me my cesspool and just how much my sin is putrid in your nostrils. Show me my sin Father so that I might confess it to you so you can cleanse me and make me whole; then I can make my life a living sacrifice that his holy and pleasing in your sight and in your nostrils. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray.

Running After Papa…