“Naaman . . was a mighty man of valor, but a leper.” 2 Kings 5:1 NKJV
“God will do for you what you cannot, when you will do what you can.”
My thoughts today are about “a contrast of realities.”
No one’s life is a single story. We know that our own isn’t, but hold to the idea that others’ are somehow. Every one of us is a collection of realities, some proudly reported and others contrary to our wishes. Naaman was just such a contrast of realities – “commander of the army . . a great man . . highly regarded . . valiant soldier . . but he had leprosy.” NLT. So much about Naaman and his life were wonderfully good, but he had leprosy!
Those who knew him would have said that “he had it all,” but Naaman’s “all” included leprosy. Leprosy was the worst of dreaded diseases – incurable, devastating, and a tragically contagious disease, unrelated to anything he would have chosen or had done to deserve. But his story included that reality.
Initially, this unwanted reality might have been possible to ignore, until he could no longer do so. For a while he may have tried to hide it from others, but soon some would know. Sadly, leprosy was terminal, eventually. A person with it died just a little at a time, slow and agonizingly. Naaman was offered a way to be rid of his leprosy, something that he could not do for himself. He moved in the direction of a miracle. His story takes some interesting twists but concludes with the word “leprosy” being removed form his resume, and from his life! You can read Naaman’s story for yourself. See 2Kings 5:1-19 NKJV.
Let me draw a parallel. The things you should deal with and fail to do so do not go away or simply lie dormant for very long. You know the kinds of things – the not-so-bad things that waste valuable time, unprofitable habits, secrets you keep, guilt you hide, attitudes wrongly indulged, or friendships and activities that lure your heart from God.
Left unattended, they hold the potential to spoil the wonderful story of your life that God is writing. Jesus spoke of Naaman, “There were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, only Naaman the Syrian.” Luke 4:27 NIV. I want to be that kind of an exception. God will do for you what you cannot, when you will do what you can. See 2Kings 5:9-14 NLT. To be whole, you have to be real.
King David spoke of this contrast of realities, “Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and Redeemer.” Psalm 19:12-14 NIV.
Errors, hidden faults, willful sins, great transgression – such a worsening progression of the soul is inevitable and stands in stark contrast to the reality of a heart that desires every thought of the heart and every word of expression to be pleasing to God. You can make your story different, if you will. See Psalm 139:23-24 NLT.
My prayer for you today is that you deal with anything that doesn’t fit your profile.