Getting a yearly physical is considered a good thing, and the older one gets the more often he should get one.
At my age doctors suggest getting one every half hour. It really interferes from tee to green, but that’s another story.
The expression getting a physical is familiar terminology, but have you ever heard of getting a spiritual? Seems logical to me since humans are made up of souls and bodies that both ought to be examined from time to time to see if there might be an unknown physical or spiritual malady not perceived by how well one feels.
Hearing the words, “you have stage four liver cancer,” sends a shock wave through your otherwise sense of wellness. Your world is turned upside down and seeking a second opinion is the first thing that runs through your mind. We care about our physical health and will do all we can to keep it in good repair. Surely another doctor will give me a better report.
What happens to us when we are given a spiritual and are told our spiritual condition is stage five? We are pronounced dead. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Eph. 2:1-3).
Where does one go to get a second opinion on their death? They are fully aware of their spiritual death because the law is written on their hearts (Rom. 2), the Holy spirit convicts of sin (John 16), and their conscience accuses them (Rom. 2). But our passion to live as we please will always seek a second opinion about our spiritual death and we are sure to find what we are looking for.
The apostle Paul ads to this by explaining why people seek a second opinion about their spiritual death. They suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Rom.1:18). In other words the pleasure of their sin is so great it pushes away what they know to be true and seek another opinion.
If you know deep in your heart that pornography is wrong you can always go online and find a psychologist who will tell you just what you are looking for. “Don’t suppress your sexual passions as this will lead to psychological damage, not to mention missing out on all the pleasure passing in review.”
If you desire to sleep with your boyfriend or girlfriend and your conscience convicts you of this sin, then just get a second opinion. There are plenty out there. “Would you buy a pair of shoes without first trying them on? Why marry someone without first seeing if the two of you are sexually compatible?”
If you know that abortion is wrong but you just don’t want the responsibility of caring for a child, you can always find a good argument in your favor, such as, “The nine pound six ounce protrusion in your stomach is just a mass of tissue,” or “A women has the right to do what she wants with her own body” (a strange argument since it is not her body that is being destroyed). Or, the government should not interfere with a woman’s reproductive rights. (Another strange argument since it sounds like the right to reproduce is being denied). Don’t expect arguments to be logical where when sin is the subject.
Jesus put it well when He said, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19).
By nature, humans only want a second opinion about their spiritual death if it promises them life. “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman (Gen. 3:4). “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5).
The enemy was offering a second opinion about spiritual death and has been doing so ever since. When you partake of evil you will find life, is his argument. John goes on to say that there is no truth in him. This is what the sexual revolution parades before the world, promising life but finding death. Jesus has a remedy for this tragic lie when He said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live” (John 11:25). Jesus doesn’t give opinions, He distributes truth, and when Jesus speaks you won’t need a second opinion. “For you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32).