P.O. Box 53055    
Los Angeles, CA 90053   

TEMPORARY FIXES #4

JESUS AND HIS STASH OF NYQUIL

One of our very favorite radio listeners in the world is a friend named Margaret Lewis. She tunes in every single weekday, Monday through Friday, on radio station KCWJ in Kansas City. And I confess that part of the reason she does so is because she's one of our prized "radio monitors" — volunteers who listen to our 15-minute program as a troubleshooter and advisor.

If the station accidentally — or on purpose, heaven forbid — preempts the broadcast, she lets us know. If there's a hiccup in the system, she writes that down too. If the program starts early or late, or if someone inadvertently plays the Monday program all five times through the week, she's on their case big-time. Actually, our friends at KCWJ must do a fantastic job, because most of the time her evaluation sheets to us are nothing but rave reviews.

And I have to admit that we're human enough to almost be in love with her for her kind remarks about the sermons. "Last week was great!" "The best ever!" And so on. I don't know if Ken and David and I deserve it, but we almost have her pink report sheets up on the walls in gilded frames. She really is a staunch supporter, and we appreciate the help so much, Margaret.

Well, why am I using up valuable Thursday time — KCWJ, you ARE running this segment on Thursday, I hope! — to talk about Margaret? It's very clear, easy to see, that this wonderful Christian woman is a saved believer. She has a daily, born-again relationship with Jesus, and her salvation is absolutely assured. And friend, that's the goal and purpose of this ministry. We would feel completely fulfilled if every single listener out there on all 160+ stations, and over in Europe on Adventist World Radio and Radio 74, were enjoying that full assurance of salvation.

But you know, I'm a realist. And I know that there are many, many listeners, multiplied thousands, who are hearing our radio program for the very first time today. And — again, just facing reality — there are some listening right now on this Thursday, who will never again, a single time, tune in. Today's our one moment of connection with you. Whatever we want to say to you about the things of heaven, and about God, and His Son Jesus, we have to say in the next eight minutes. Those are the realities of Christian radio, of religious media.

Here's the question I have to often think about — and it correlates with what we've been discussing all week in our radio series: TEMPORARY FIXES. Obviously, we would like to invite each one of you into the same experience of assured Christian salvation that we enjoy and celebrate here at The Voice of Prophecy. That's our hope and desire; that's the focus of our prayers. But what should we do about the plain fact that many of our listeners will only listen to one 13-minute segment? And that's it! That's our only point of connection with you. We'll never again on this earth have this opportunity, this link. And if we can't give you the entire gospel, the full package, should we even be here?

We used as a radio motif earlier this week the story entitled Awakenings, from Dr. Oliver Sacks, the British-born neurologist, which is based on his experience with patients who had Parkinson's Disease, and the temporary cure or relief provided by huge doses of the drug, L-Dopa. Just a few weeks ago, our writer/producer, David Smith, gave a devotional talk here at our media center, and he made an interesting statement. "We are ALL," he said, "pharmacists. Every single one of us working here: speakers, writers, secretaries, mailroom clerks, accountants, custodial staff, fund-raising specialists. Every employee here has been called by God Himself to be a pharmacist."

Now, what did he mean? Obviously, it's our conviction that the Christian message is one of healing and wellness. A person who accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Savior is going to inherit eternal life and enjoy eternal life. A time will come when sickness and death and all of the curses attached to sin will be gone forever. So if this radio ministry can have a part in participating with God in bringing you that experience, we certainly ARE all pharmacists.

But now a reality check. Does every pill and potion give a person eternal life? Quick! Let's all go to the drugstore! But that's not the case, is it? Many times — in fact, here on earth it's ALL the time — the medicines we receive there at the counter when we make our $10 co-payment bring just a temporary respite from symptoms. Flu feelings are driven out of the body, but not permanently. Allergies can be alleviated, but not eliminated. Antibiotics conquer some germs, only to succumb later to other ones.

And so when we consider this statement — "We are all pharmacists" — is it realistic, and even acceptable, to realize that often our labors are going to just bring temporary results?

We have a very special employee here named Jan Judd. Week after week, she sits at her desk with a well-marked Bible and a computer, and she answers so many of the HARD letters that come to Box 53055. Some are theological, of course. But we also get piles and piles of correspondence here from people who face HUGE battles with drugs, with divorce, with loneliness. Some have problems with compulsive eating disorders, or with memories and scars of child abuse.

And Jan, sitting there at that desk with her Bible and her own prayers, tries to offer counsel. Now, certainly, an invitation to come to Jesus and seek a living relationship with Him is the core of every letter.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

A discouraged jailor in Philippi heard that wonderful, 11-word message 2000 years ago, and it's still the right message for this Thursday. But people also need temporary help with that drug problem! The lonely person needs to hear that a human friend cares right now. The teenager who's been through five diets and a home breakup and is almost suicidal needs a solution for right now! And Jan tries to give it.

Here's another thought to go with her challenge. Even when she might provide a purely spiritual suggestion — and when we do the same here over the airwaves — I know and she knows and you know that a listener might apply just the tiniest slice of that advice to their lives. Maybe they get just a temporary, one-day lift. They try what the Bible says — and things are a little bit better just for a day or two. And then they slip back. Things improve for a week or two as they begin to pray and read God's Word for themselves. And then there's a bit of falling back.

Well, really, friend, aren't we all that way? The last time you heard a sermon in church, did it make a permanent, lasting, forever impression? Probably not. But did you at least go out of the sanctuary, and try to give those biblical principles a try? Were things at least a bit better for a bit of time?

And so I say again: We are all pharmacists! We have pills to share that bring healing and relief. Permanent healing, if you'll take them. And day-to-day comfort, a momentary lift, if that's all you are ready for here on June 10.

In Matthew chapter eight is a quiet little story where Jesus and His disciples came to stop by and rest at Peter's house. This big fisherman must have been so proud to have his beloved Master visit. Only one thing marred the occasion: his mother-in-law was down in bed with a fever. Probably nothing more than a headache, not a serious illness. But what does the Word of God record?

"He [Jesus] touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on Him."

She felt good enough to get up and fix supper! Here Jesus took precious time out of His divine mission as Savior to the WORLD to help someone get rid of their headache. And then it says in the next verse that all sorts of people came to the front door with their illnesses, and He graciously, one by one, made them all well. No mention of a sermon; no making people fill out Bible-study pledge cards before He would give them the temporary gift of healing. No. Jesus, the greatest Pharmacist this world has ever known, had the Bread of eternal life to distribute . . . but He also had some 24-hour nighttime-sniffling-sneezing-coughing-achy-stuffy-head-fever-so-you-can-rest-and-have-a-good-morning Nyquil medicine on Him.

In other words, friend, Jesus, who loved people so much He ACHED to have them eternally in His kingdom, also loved them enough to meet their momentary, even self-centered needs of right now, right down to a migraine headache.

And so, fellow gospel pharmacists, should we.