Open letter to every fellow traveller who thirsts for truth
In this letter, I visit you beloved reader to remind
you of two soul-saving stories from the Old Testament which have the purpose of
becoming a compass of truths in your life travels.
One day the Military General of Syria, Neeman visited
the prophet Elisaios to heal him from the illness of leprosy (4 Kings 5).
Prophet Elisaios through a third party told Neeman to go under the waters of
the river Jordan seven times and he would be healed. Neeman however left
angrily saying, "I thought that this person would come to visit me, stand
over me in prayer and call on his God and then put his hand on my ill body and
heal me. Are not the rivers of Avana and Farfar in Damascus better than all the
waters of Israel? Could I not go under these waters and be healed?" His
soldiers drew near and said, "The prophet did not tell you to do something
very hard or impossible." And they made him follow the commandment of the
prophet. Truly, Neeman believed. He went to the river Jordan, immersed himself
seven times and his body was cleansed of leprosy. His skin became like that of
a small child. Yet from Neeman, the leprosy went to prophet Elisaios1 servant,
Yehazi. It went to Yehazi because he secretly ran to Neeman and received an
unlawful gratuity for the miraculous healing and then concealed his sin from
the prophet with a silly lie.
Who healed Neeman from leprosy? The waters of the
Jordan? No of course! If the prophet sent him to the Euphrates river and Neeman
went under the water in the river Jordan he would not have been healed! Neeman
was healed from the healing power of OBEDIENCE. He obeyed the prophetic truth
and was freed from leprosy. The leprosy was saddled on the lie of Yehazi. What
a powerful and irrefutable teaching this story leaves us! Who can dispute that
obedience to truth is a sacrifice greater than every other sacrifice? The
greatness of truth on earth is noted by Zorobabel in the Old Testament (1
Esdras 4:34-41). The greatness of the sacrifice of obedience is taught by
Prophet Samuel (1 Kings 15).
One day the prophet Samuel told the King Saul to go
into battle with the Amalikites and slay them and all their animals. Saul went
to war with them, defeated them, but withheld as spoils of war, their best
animals to sacrifice to God. God however did not want a sacrifice such as the
spoils of disobedience. He was visited by prophet Samuel telling him the
following very significant words, "Do you think your sacrifices are more
preferable to God from obedience to his commandments? Obedience to his
commandments is higher than any other sacrifice and his careful attention to
God's commandments is more preferable from the fat of the sacrifices of rams.
This is a sin which is equivalent to sacrifices being made to idols and such
sacrifice brings pain to man. For this disobedience, Saul's lost his title as
King.
With these two stories, the truth, more brighter than
the sun, teaches us that no one received healing without obeying God's
commandments and no one becomes holy with sacrifices that are done outside
obedience of his commandments that are given through his prophets. Because
genuine sacrifice to God is the humblest of spirits (Psalm 50:19); that is, the
spirit of obedience. Genuine freedom for man is knowledge of truth. "Know
the truth and the truth will free you." (John 8:32) What however is the
truth? Dear reader: as a hospital is verifiable as a healing centre from the
good results of healing the sick, the truth is verifiable from the results of
its healings. Neeman obeyed the truth of the prophet and saw immediately the
results of his healing.
Today, there are many rivers in which people are
baptized with no results of healing. This is because their source is not based
on truth and obedience. The Jordan river springs from the sources of Ior and
Dan. Symbolically, these springs can be translated as obedience to truth. The
river today that springs from these two sources is named Orthodoxy. If you want
to see the healing results of baptism in this river do not hesitate to follow
the example of Neeman. You may at the beginning become angry like Neeman and
put reason above faith. Afterwards however, think more clearly, and place your
faith above human reasoning. Your faith to obedience of truth will become the joy
of your salvation. I wish this upon you!
Gregorian Monk
Christodoulos
Cantor at the Holy
Church of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem- Palestine
For all those who
read this text can you please forward it to your friends for their benefit and
in their turn in the same way spreading the word of God to as many of our
Christian brothers. Thank You!!
Email: xm24757@gmail.com
Facebook:
Christodoulos Monk
Skype:
Christodoylos.monaxos
Those wishing to send
names for commemoration in the Divine Liturgy can send them by post to the
following address:
Fr Christodoulos
Greek Orthodox
Convent
P.O Box 52
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