Last week I had a PET scan. A PET scan is a specialized imaging method that uses X-rays to create detailed pictures of the brain, heart, or body. It allows your doctor to detect and evaluate what is going on within you. A couple of weeks ago I had a SOUL scan. Only God is capable of this type of scan, of seeing and evaluating your soul. God saw something in my SOUL scan that was not pleasing to Him. Don’t judge me, we all have been guilty of the self-sins. Sins of self-righteousness, self-pity, self-admiration, self-sufficiency, and a host of others like them. Sometimes they dwell so deep within us and are too much a part of our human nature for us to see them. But God sees them! When God does a SOUL scan, they cannot hide, they will be seen by the Great Physician Himself!
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
If a PET scan detects something suspicious or harmful, the doctor will follow up with a diagnosis and then attempt to treat and/or remove the problem. When a SOUL scan finds something that is not pleasing to God, the Holy Spirit does the same. He will first convict us. In the Strong Concordance the Greek word convict means to bring to light or to expose. When the Holy Spirit convicts a Christian, it is how the Lord rebukes His children in love. The Holy Spirit reminds us of our righteousness paid for by the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross. I used to believe the Holy Spirit convicted us of our sins, but Jesus bought and paid for our sins on the cross. Don’t get John 16:8 twisted; it reads “ When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment” (NIV) As believers we benefit from conviction by the Holy Spirit as we grow more like Christ. The devil wants us to feel unworthy and separate ourselves from God because he knows nothing can ever separate God from us! The Holy Spirit reminds us of our righteousness and the Grace of God will teach us to live in that righteous.
“And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:24-25)
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” (Romans 8:38 NLT)
As we fight the battle of flesh against spirit, there will always be work to be done within us. In 1 Corinthians 15:31, Paul said that he dies to the flesh daily. Paul did not have the Holy Spirit to help him as we are blessed to have today. We cannot die daily in our own strength. When we want to know Jesus on a deeper level, the flesh has to be put to death daily. That is why we need the Holy Spirit and from time to time a SOUL scan to empower us. With each passing day, by God’s grace, we mature and grow into righteous living. Not in perfection or trying to earn or achieve it but by pursuing God’s character, because it is the desire of our new nature to become more Christlike. To pursue righteousness means to turn away from your natural, sinful desires, and turn to Christ and His perfect and righteous ways. Through obedience to this command, God is preparing us for eternal life with Him, aligning us with our righteousness through Christ. Our righteousness began in Christ and is completed in Christ. We must follow Him and pursue it daily.
“And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (Romans 4:5)
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
PET scans do not hurt although some positions might be uncomfortable or tiring. It is common to get claustrophobia and experience fear and anxiety about the possible outcomes. SOUL scans may also make us uncomfortable. You may experience fear and anxiety thinking that God has found something that you were hiding, although we know we can’t hide anything from Him. You may feel unworthy of God’s love or feel you have let Him down. You may feel weak in your faith and your walk with Christ. Don’t let the enemy feed you those lies! SOUL scans will show us areas in which we need to improve and will point out anything in us that displeases God. Just as any good physician should do, the Great Physician will help us work to remove and restore, and He will provide us with the strength and healing to do it. We must do our part by confessing, repenting and trusting God. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is the same power that lives in us, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, reminds us of our righteousness when we fall, and empower us to obey God and to overcome temptation when it tries to overwhelm us. Jesus is on our side. He is our advocate on the Father’s right hand. Soul scans are needed for us to walk in Christ and profess, “It is well with my soul.” Love and Blessings…
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.” (John 14:26)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3)
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” (Titus 2:11-12)
EMMANUEL 