Your Sins Are Forgiven
"My son, do not forget my Torah, let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you." (Proverbs 3:1-2)
The Word of God promises good health, and long life to all who walk in the path of righteousness. The opposite is true, for those who lead a life of lawlessness (Torah-less).
The foundations of the righteous are firm and their life continues to flourish in every season.
In contrast, those who conduct their lives according to worldly standards build their life on shifting sand. Their life is diminished, and marked with illness and unrest.
Indeed, the health of our bones and flesh is directly affected by the lifestyle we choose. Follow the path of the godly and you will have a healthy body and strong bones.
"Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones." (Proverbs 3:7-8)
Walk the path of the ungodly and sickness will be encountered.
Understandably then a person who deliberately walks contrary to God's instructions will experience a life shortened and distinguished by ill health. So too, for those who leave God's ways to wander the darkened paths of the ungodly, then their health is likewise directly affected.
Clearly, there is a stark contrast between the consequences of walking the path of righteousness as against the consequences of pursuing a life shaped by worldly standards. The fact that our health is a true gauge is telling. One does not need to go to the doctor to be deemed unhealthy.
In truth, good health is not determined by specialists or doctors, but by the lifestyle we choose. Live a life of worldly standards, and expect illness and unrest, or live a life close to God, according to His instructions and expect good health.
Observe the following scenario when friends of a paralyzed man brought him to Yeshua. The friends lowered the paralyzed man into the room below where Yeshua was teaching.
"When Yeshua saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven you.'" (Mark 2:5)
He was immediately healed.
Observing the miraculous healing were the Jewish religious authorities. At the time, they were responsible for addressing such significant events for the purpose of bringing clarity and to determine whether it was of God or otherwise. Thus, they began to reason in their hearts the issues at hand.
On the one hand, "Why does this man speak blasphemies like this?" and, yet, on the other hand, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:7)
Affirming their assessment, Yeshua also encouraged their deliberation and welcomed their discussion.
"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'?" (Mark 2:9)
The two-pronged question is remarkable. Not only does it point clearly to Yeshua being the Messiah, God's Anointed, but it also affirms the understanding that sin can cause ill-health. The implication then is that this man had been made a paralytic because of his sins. Consequently, the only way for him to be healed was to be forgiven.
His sins were forgiven, and thus he was healed. He was healed, and thus his sins were forgiven.
Messiah Yeshua came preaching the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The Jewish people, the Chosen Nation, had fallen away from the path of righteousness and were being called back: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe …" (Mark 1:15) Multitudes responded, and in returning to the righteous path, received both forgiveness and healing.
Perhaps the healed man was known by those present, including the religious authorities, to have had a wayward lifestyle. Perhaps an accident while pursuing the ungodly life had resulted in his being paralyzed. Subsequently, he may have realized the error of his ways, and was desperate to return to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His friends believing him, and also having faith in the power of Yeshua the Messiah took their repentant friend (the paralytic) to Yeshua.
The healing of the paralytic man gives witness to the truth that Yeshua is Messiah, because only the Anointed One has the power and authority to both forgive sins and heal.
"But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins – He said to the paralytic, 'I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.' Immediately, he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God …" (Mark 2:10-12)
The Messiah came preaching repentance, and a return to righteousness.
The psalmist agrees, and compares the lifestyle of the righteous with that of those who choose a life governed by worldly standards.
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the Torah of the LORD, and in His Torah he meditates day and night.
"He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
"The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
"For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish." (Psalm 1:1-6)
The Messiah came. The kingdom of God was at hand with forgiveness and healing; available to all who responded by returning to God, and to the life in which He had instructed His people to walk, the path of righteousness.
May we be blessed to see many returning to the God of Israel. May there be many who believe in the Messiah, and receive forgiveness and healing.
Mark Warren