doctor's life support

23rd January: The Divine Surgeon (3)

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. 1 Peter 5:6

The questions of consent is always an important one before any surgery is performed. The patient should place himself, with faith, into the hands of his surgeon, whom he trusts implicitly. Christ will never force his handiwork upon us. He asks us to place ourselves willingly, with implicit trust, in his hands. He only operates for our good. It is difficult for any surgeon to explain to a layman all the intricacies and implications of any operation about to be performed. So we must trust Christ with the sequelae of any intervention, knowing that his promise is `I wound and I heal'.

Conversely, not every request that we make for surgery will necessarily be granted. Paul had a foreign body -- a thorn -- that he wished removed. He made a formal request on three occasions, but surgery was denied. How disappointed he must have been, perhaps ever doubting the Surgeon's judgment. But in the end he realised that the decision was for his overall good. We must remember that God is working in us and with us, in the ways that God considers best, to make us into the image of Christ -- the Perfect Man.

My thinking in this area has been largely triggered by a recent personal experience which has been quite painful -- not physically, but in my heart and soul and spirit. In this experience I have been tempted to blame the pain on a number of sources -- the Devil, unfortunate circumstances, people who are against me, people whom I don't like, bad luck, etc, etc.

Perhaps at this time you are passing through a painful experience. May I ask whom or what you consider to be the cause of your pain?

In my own case, after considerable reflection, I suddenly realised it was God who was working in me -- the Divine Surgeon operating. This awareness brought great relief to my heart and mind. As the surgery concluded, but to be sure, I asked the Surgeon to remove his gloves. As he did so, I saw in his palms the marks of Calvary. It was, indeed, he; the One who had passed through the great pain of Calvary, but had triumphed in Resurrection. I knew then that he understood, more than I ever could, the meaning of pain and healing. As he took off his mask I looked into his beautiful, understanding face and heard him gently say `I wound and I heal'.

Leave to his sovereign sway
To choose and to command:
So shalt thou wondering own his way
How wise, how strong his hand.
John Wesley
(translated from the German of Paul Gerhardt).

Further reading: Rom 8:28-30. 2 Cor 3:18, 5:17.

ROS