Spiritual Diagnosis

<p>Chemotherapy reduced the tumor in my father-in-law&rsquo;s pancreas, until it didn&rsquo;t. As the tumor began to grow again, he was left with a life-and-death decision. He asked his doctor, &ldquo;Should I take more of this chemo or try something else, perhaps a different drug or radiation?&rdquo;&nbsp;</p> <p>The people of Judah had a similar life-and-death question. Weary from war and famine, God&rsquo;s people wondered whether their problem was too much idolatry or not enough. They concluded they should offer more sacrifices to a false god and see if she would protect and prosper them (Jeremiah 44:17).</p> <p>Jeremiah said they had wildly misdiagnosed their situation. Their problem wasn&rsquo;t a lack of commitment to idols; their problem was that they had them. They told the prophet, &ldquo;We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the <smallcaps>Lord</smallcaps>!&rdquo; (v. 16). Jeremiah replied, &ldquo;Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the <smallcaps>Lord</smallcaps> and have not obeyed him or followed his law or his decrees or his stipulations, this disaster has come upon you&rdquo; (v. 23).</p> <p>Like Judah, we may be tempted to double down on sinful choices that have landed us in trouble. Relationship problems? We can be more aloof. Financial issues? We&rsquo;ll spend our way to happiness. Pushed aside? We&rsquo;ll be equally ruthless. But the idols that contributed to our problems can&rsquo;t save us. Only Jesus can carry us through our troubles as we turn to Him.</p>