Selling Drugs
Can you remember when there were no prescription drug commercials on television? Some of them are down right creepy! I know this may seem impossible, but at one time we actually trusted our doctors to prescribe what was best for our symptoms. We might have asked our pharmacist at the local drug store, you know the one who knew us by name and sent our mother flowers when she had a baby? Our doctor and pharmacist were on a first name basis with one another and we trusted their opinion on what was best.
Funny… we were in good health and didn’t need near the drugs we need today.
Now most of the local drug stores have been replaced or bought by the major pharmaceutical outlets with drive-up windows and drop boxes. We go to our doctors not because we feel bad, but because a commercial suggested we self-diagnose our own symptoms and ask our doctors about taking this new drug. Forget about the doctor’s years of training, education, and experience, we want the purple pill.
These new drugs have got to be good. Listen to the testimonies of the taxi cab drivers, the father who is “really bumming his kids out” with his cold, and those people standing on the rocks all coming together at the end of the commercial. According to them, these new drugs answered their problems and we should ask our doctors if these drugs are right for us.
Then the commercial ends with some hyper-speed talking guy laying out the side effects, which may cause dry mouth, nausea, headaches, inflammation, ringing in the ears, insomnia, stomach ulcers, constipation, anal leakage, diarrhea, and even death (of course, results will vary).
Ummm… yeah! Which is worse: the original symptoms or the side effects. This might have been the answer to their problems, yet is it the right answer for ours?
Doctors generally want to determine the root cause for the symptoms. Masking or covering the symptoms will not make them go away, but addressing what causes the symptoms will allow for the long-term cure. Using the prescriptions to alleviate short-term problems provides relief, but does not answer the root cause.
In a similar way, God has provided an answer for the penalty of our sins. We are told in Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved…”, meaning we are saved from the death sentence put upon us by sin. We are first shown mercy, where we do not receive what we should: punishment; then we are shown grace, where we receive what we do not deserve: salvation.
Does this address the root cause of our sin? No, sin is the symptom of our selfishness. When we consider all sin begins as selfish intent, we see sin is a side effect. If we look at the Ten Commandments given to Moses, to break each of the Ten Commandments begins with a focus on ourselves, or a selfish desire.
Our selfish desire is the root cause of our sin, drawing us back like an addiction. We can only change this root cause by being transformed, as suggested in Romans 12:2-3, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”
These verses call us to be transformed by renewing our minds, learning a different path or way of thinking than one causing our selfish desires and actions. We should not think highly of ourselves, but instead we should consider others. This is confirmed in Mark 12:29-31 when Jesus is asked the most important commandments, “‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: Hear… the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’”
Jesus is speaking clearly when He answers the question about the greatest commandments. To paraphrase, “Take your eyes off yourself, put the Lord first in your life, followed by others in your life. Put yourself last.” In this way, Jesus is focusing on the root cause of sin, which is selfishness.
When we change our focus, we are changing our way of thinking and our view of those around us. As we focus on the Lord, we are drawn to His word in Scripture. As we focus on others, our selfish nature is changed. Through these steps, we are transformed and renewed. As easy as this sounds, I do not believe we can do this on our own.
The best prescription does not require a doctor’s slip when we find this truth in Scripture and search out the ultimate Healer in our lives. Jesus not only takes care of the symptoms of sin, but also transforms our very nature to address the root cause.
Please note without any hyper talking gibberish: Side effects may include the absence of death, eternal salvation, a depth of love beyond measure, a sense of joy beyond description, peace beyond understanding, patience beyond comparison, layers of kindness, undefined goodness, unimaginable faithfulness, a sweet gentleness, and self-control… and while results may vary, they usually provide for a truely unique relationship like none other.
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Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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