Has there ever been a moment or a season of life where it felt like the end? Like it was over? For some of us, the future is different today than it was last night or last week or last year.
It feels like it’s over because of the continued uncertainty of the Coronavirus.
It feels like it’s over because of a diagnosis of cancer.
It feels like it’s over because a marriage is struggling.
It feels like it’s over because someone close died.
It feels like it’s over because of an unexpected move.
It feels like it’s over because a student didn’t make the team.
What makes these seasons even harder is the fact that we don’t know how long they are going to last!
The fascinating thing about the Bible is that nearly every single author wrote during major times of uncertainty, tragedy, and doubt. The Bible is filled with examples of stress, uncertainty, pain, plagues, and death.
In Matthew 8:1-4, Jesus encounters a man with leprosy. English word for leprosy comes from the Latin “lepra” which means “scaly.” Leprosy is an infection that can lie dormant for up to 20 years before symptoms are displayed. It is a disease that attacks the nerves, the lungs, the skin, and the eye. It often results in an inability to feel pain and it was not uncommon for a leper to lose an outer extremity because of repeated injuries and deterioration due to infection. It was a shameful condition. According the Leviticus 13:46, lepers were excommunicated from their community and forced to live outside the city.
There was nowhere for a leper to hide. There are times when we have issues that we can mask it. Not so with this man. His life for all intensive purposes is over.
The Old Testament in the Bible provided strict guidelines for skin diseases, generally called leprosy (Leviticus 5, 13-14).
Lepers were considered unclean and no one touches a leper. If a person happened to approach someone with leprosy, the leper was required to call out “unclean” (Lev 13:45).
Can you imagine? There was nowhere to hide. There was no opportunity to worship. The only option is to be honest about your condition. And the shame of everyone talking about your condition.
When the leper approaches Jesus in this situation, he no doubt called out “unclean” and where most would have avoided him, Jesus remains.
In an act of humility, this leper kneels before Jesus. “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
Lord, my life is over. Everyone says it’s over. I am at the end.
But Jesus I have heard about you. And I know that in Your hands even when it seems like the end, it’s not over! Even when it seems like there’s no way out or that I should just give up and wait to die, It’s not over.
“Oh Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
In Matthew 8:3, Jesus could have simply spoken His healing words. But instead Jesus does something powerful and personal. Jesus knows this man has not only physical needs but emotional needs as well. Jesus says it is my will to bring healing! So Jesus reaches out and touches him. And immediately the man, the leper, was made clean!
I am not sure what you are facing at this moment. I have no idea what situation seems like it is the end. But I do know that God is in the miracle business. And He still works miracles today. Maybe it’s not over and all you need is to cry out to Jesus, “Oh, Lord, if you will, make me clean.”
