OUR DIVINE HELPER by Mrs. A. W. Heald

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 28, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 42.

OUR DIVINE HELPER.

By Mrs. A. W. Heald

BY MRS. A. W. HEALD.

Of the many pitiful cases which came to our Saviour's notice during his short earthly ministry, few appeal more to our sympathies than that of the impotent man at Bethesda. For thirty-eight years this man had been helpless; yet ever as the season returned, he insisted on being conveyed to the famous pool, whose healing qualities were esteemed well-nigh miraculous, in the constant hope of relief. But again and again was he borne home, still cumbered with the heavy weight of infirmity.

On this eventful day, while great steps leading down to the water were thronged with "a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water," Jesus drew near, and, knowing this man's pitiable condition and his weary years of suffering, he was moved with tenderest compassion, and said to him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" The answer reveals utter loneliness and despair: "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool; but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me."

This man knew not who had addressed him, but when the Great Physician bade him rise, faith was born in his heart, and immediately he was made whole, and, obedient to the divine command, he took up his humble couch and walked forth. After this Jesus found him in the temple, and revealed himself as the Messiah, saying, "Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee."

Are there not in this incident practical lessons for us? We are in difficult places and have no helper. Our distress may be occasioned by disease. Possibly we are not guiltless in the matter, but are, even as this poor man, reaping the sad harvest of sin, for perhaps no sins are more widely prevalent than those against the body. With fearful

import the words of Inspiration are borne home to our hearts: "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy." "Ye are the temple of the living God." Yet, guilty though we are, and apparently left to bear the penalty of our own wrongdoing, the Great Physician is not unacquainted with our needs; he regards us with compassion, and speaks in tenderest love, "Wilt thou be made whole?" Through faith in the divine Son, we too may receive forgiveness full and free for past sins, healing for the body and strength of purpose, that, trusting in Christ our righteousness, henceforth we will "sin no more."

Windham, N. H.