Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Sept. 1/61

Contributor - H. W. Kolenbrander

Title - The Doctors Question: Is It Well?

Topic - Struggles

II Kings 4:26, "Is it well with thee; is it well with thy husband; is it well with the child?" Doctors have to ask some very personal questions in order to find the cause of our pains and troubles. Elisha, the healing prophet, sent Gehazi, his servant, with this question to the woman of Shunem who was coming to meet him. So the Great Physician sends us to ask sin-sick men and women of the world: "Is it well?"

Let us start with those who are in the church. Is it well with thee, o Christian? Have you been to your doctor for a check-up of your soul? Is your spiritual blood pressure low? Have you lost your zeal and enthusiasm? Is there some secret sin like a hidden cancer eating at your heart? Is there a real thirst for the things of God? A hunger for God's Work and a desire for communion with God in prayer? Whether we attend church services faithfully is not the criterion of spiritual well-being. But certainly it is one indication. Under normal conditions when Sunday morning comes there ought to be no question whether we go to church, yes or no. The normal desire of the child of God is to gather with God's people to worship God on the appointed day. "If every member were just like me, what kind of a church would my church be?" This is a good question to ask ourselves often.

Is it well with thee, o unsaved friend? "As many as touched Him were made perfectly whole." Have you by faith touched Him? Has the Great Physician healed you? We have a wonderful Physician in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. You need be sick no longer. "There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul."

However, there can be no healing unless we recognize that we are sick. They that are whole (think they are whole) have no need of a physician. The gracious invitation is still being extended: "He that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out."

Is it well with thy husband (or wife) ? Is it possible to live together as husband and wife and not know of the spiritual condition of your partner? How difficult life is when one partner is indifferent to God and His work. May there be earnest prayer and sincere Christian living to win our loved ones to Christ.

"Is it well with the child?" How often have we seen the distress and tears of parents when their children lay on beds of sickness and they were fearful that death was near. How seldom have we seen these same parents deeply concerned about the spiritual well-being of these same children. What is wrong with our sense of values? How rigidly parents obey the doctor's orders to restore health to their children. How about their spiritual health?? Churches everywhere are alarmed because a generation is growing up ignorant of God and His laws. Surely all is not well with multitudes of children today. The crime wave begins in the cradle and young people are filling our prisons and houses of correction. What will it profit, father, mother, to gain all your desires in houses, lands, gold and luxuries and lose the souls of your precious little ones? We read in the Old Testament that "a generation arose which knew not the Lord". How these words arrest us as we read Israel's sad history.

As the fall season approaches, let us be faithful in providing the opportunities for cathechetical instruction for our children and our young people. Let us also, as parents, see to it that our children get this necessary instruction. May we open our hearts and homes and churches to the Great Physician and be able to say: "It is well."

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