The Ballestero Blog

Pardon Me

Naaman stood before the Prophet Elisha a healed man. His dignity had been restored. He had a new lease on life. His death sentence had been lifted. He could now proceed in life with unlimited possibilities.

He was not an Israelite. His family had always been idolaters and heathens. Yet this man in front of him had come up with the magic formula for his healing. His leprosy was gone. Not only was the disease gone, but his skin now looked like baby skin. That was an additional miracle. This Prophet was truly a man of God.

Naaman felt a duty to be respectful of the God of Israel. He didn’t know what the response was going to be.

Naaman’s King, King Benhadad was a little feeble and getting up in years. The King had been very kind to him. He also depended on Naaman very much.  Not only was Naaman the King’s friend, he went with the King to worship in the House of Rimmon, because the king had a hard time kneeling and getting back up.

2Kings 5:18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.

• “I know that this is something I’m not supposed to do, but would it be OK ?”
• “Could you make an exception for me?”
• “I have some mitigating circumstances.”
• “I’m grateful for my miracle, but I’m under a lot of pressure from my boss.”
• “I believe what I have experienced was real, but I still want to go to my old church.”
• “I’m going to need an indulgence.”

Conviction began to grip the heart of Naaman. He was talking to Jehovah’s Prophet. Naaman wanted to do right, but just had a hard time letting go of his old life style.

He couldn’t easily disconnect. The pressure to convert to Judaism was great. The pressure to not displease his King was great. He was torn. What do I do? How can I get through this? In his mind the only ‘out’ was to ask permission and that’s what he did. It looked like he had half-hearted faith.

Although this first happened thousands of years ago, it’s still happening in many churches around the world today.

Old and young alike that have been filled with the Holy Ghost and delivered from sin, have been known to ask for exceptions.

• “Pastor, is it OK if I do this?
• Pastor is it OK if I go over there?
• I know what you preached, but let me explain my situation.

As a pastor, it often seemed that most people who came to my office and asked, “Is it OK if I do this or that,” were somehow asking how much they could get away with and still be saved.

That may have been an over-reach on my part, but the fact remains there will always be a struggle in the heart of flesh. A choice must be made in serving either God or Mammon. We can’t do both.

Fall in love with Jesus, and let go of the world. The most miserable people in church are those that are half in and half out.