In the annals of long ago, Samaria was besieged by the superior military forces of Syria.
The city was locked down until food and water was gone. Cannibalism and urine became the despicable diet together with bird droppings, and other such things. It was man’s insurmountable catastrophe, but God’s opportunity. 2 Kings 6-7. You really ought to stop and read these chapters right now. Through His prophet God promised food in abundance for sale, cheap, the next day. The king’s financier scoffed, but four starving lepers reasoned most logically and profoundly. They would escape the starving city since there were none to make food available to them. Perhaps the enemy would have compassion on them; maybe not. But if they were killed by the enemy, it would be quicker than the slow starvation they were experiencing.
So off they went. Now God caused the armies of the enemy to hear an approaching army that really was not there. However they ran for their lives, leaving tents, food, animals, etc.
What a joy it was to the lepers to find this bonanza. They were so happy, they gathered food, clothing, money, etc., and buried them. Then they also yielded to logic again. “We do not well,”
they told themselves. People in Samaria are on the brink of death from starvation, and here is an abundance of food.
Consequently, they ran to spread the good news. People were so desperate, and ecstatic that they stampeded, running over the skeptics and doubters, and before the day was done food was for sale cheap in the gate of the city. It is a nice story, but does it hold any application for folks who are now thousands of years into the future?
Consider that the enemy of sin surrounds and invades every person. By it each one is to die, not just physically, but also spiritually. The good news is that there is life flowing outwardly from the camp of the enemy where the blessed Lord Jesus was crucified to pay the penalty of sin. He also provides sustaining knowledge, and hope to those who will receive His free gift. My friend, one thing is certain. If you continue to do nothing, you will experience eternal death. If those of us who have found the Lord precious seek to hoard, and hide His blessing, we do not well, and we will pay a tremendous price for it at His coming. Hear then the lifesaving logic of the lepers. Let us cast ourselves on the mercy of Him who can save us, and let us share the good news that others may be saved as well.
FOR THOUGHT: Do you see the parallel between the lepers and Christians today? Do you think shirking our privilege and duty to fellow men will bring great condemnation to us? Do you understand that Christians have a command, but the lepers did not?