When it comes to submitting to health-checks I’ve been a dismal failure…deserving a ‘D’ for dunce! I usually wait until I feel like death-warmed-up before I take myself to a doctor. In this area of life my dear wife is way-ahead of me. And, yes, you’re right, I need to listen to her more often and follow her sound advice… after all, my body belongs to her (1 Cor.7:4).

Several years ago my wife insisted I present my body to my doctor for a full health-check. It was through this visit that it was later discovered I had Leukaemia! I still recall how the doctor almost fell out of his chair through laughter. As I stood before him, he asked, “Why have you come today, you look alright?” I said, “My wife threatened me with violence if I didn’t come to see you.”

Laughter aside, the practice of regular examinations of our physical bodies is generally accepted as a smart thing to do. Early detection of threats to our health can save us from major corrective action. Our physical bodies are quite important as they serve as earthly vehicles for our spirit, and the Holy Spirit. First Corinthians says, “Don’t you realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” (6:19).

If physical heath-checks are important, spiritual health-checks are far more important as they are vital to our day-to-day, righteous walk with God. Friends, we are responsible for the state of our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being! Closing our eyes and minds to the threats that abound in the world in which we live and lurks in our sin-nature will not save us from unnecessary hurt, injury, and regret. Regular physical and spiritual health-checks are strongly advised if we wish to enjoy balanced, healthy lives.

Writing to the church at Corinth, Paul urged the members… “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith” (2 Cor. 13:5). Paul challenged his listeners to conduct the most important test of their lives… To inwardly examine to see if Jesus Christ is indeed residing, and presiding in their lives! This is one test they could not afford to neglect… No one can!

Physical health-checks are best conducted by human specialists, and spiritual health-checks are best conducted by the Holy Spirit… the Interior Specialist! There was a time when David cried out, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23,24).

Friends, I may be a sloth when it comes to taking myself to a doctor for physical health-checks but I am a ‘Speedy Gonzales’ when it comes to taking myself to God. Almost every morning I kneel before our Father and invite the Holy Spirit to examine my life – head, heart, and spirit… asking Him to reveal to me anything that is not right in my relationship with others and with Him.

While the responsibility of submitting to health-checks is ours – cleansing and correcting us of all faults, errors, and sin is the work of the Holy Spirit. How much do you value self-examinations? 

Best wishes
Bill Joukhadar