A Place for Healing

“I have seen their ways, but I will heal them ….
Peace, peace, to those far and near,”
says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”

Isaiah 57:18a,19

A pastor I know often says, “Church is not a museum of saints; it is a hospital for sinners.”

But that can’t be true, right?

After all, we wear our Sunday best. Even if ties and jackets have been exchanged for polos and blue jeans, you’d never wear your Saturday loungers to Sunday service.

The same could be said of the clothing we use to hide our hearts.

Sure, we all confess we’re sinners at the beginning of worship. That’s dress code. But we’d never let anyone know about last week’s big sin.

Yes, we usually walk in with a big smile on our faces, glad to be there. We’d never reveal the brokenness, the pain, or the anguish underneath. And even if we do give a little peek, we can’t sound the depths of our sadness in front of everyone. “Fine” is the standard response.

Indeed, we greet one another and have fellowship. But we’d never let anyone see the anxiety underneath, the worries, the fears, the doubts.

It’s time to trade in your Sunday best for a hospital gown.

God doesn’t invite us over to his house so we can show each other how healthy we are. He invites us over to heal us. The church is a place of healing. Here he washes away every spot and stain of sin, even last week’s big sin. Here he restores union and communion between you and himself and your fellow believers. Here again he declares you his child, graciously inviting you to cast all your cares on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Take him up on his invitation. Receive the medicine he gives you. Come and be healed!