The soccer ball was about twenty feet away from both of us, and I knew that I would get there first. But just barely. I’d be able to maybe get away a good kick, but at the very same instant, I’d be body-checked but good. My brother had no mercy. He was bigger than me. I don’t recall whether or not I got the kick away, but I do recall the body-check. I tried to catch myself by falling with my arm stretched out straight. I heard a cracking sound and it seemed that I could feel it run right up through my shoulder.

The next few hours were a mixture of pain and fear. Certainly tears. The kind doctor who attended me at the hospital encouraged me with memorable words. He said that the human body has such remarkable healing powers that when a broken bone mends properly, it ends up being stronger then it was before. In my own way I found comfort in this. In a few months, I would be able to brag that my arm was uncommonly strong. At least the two bones which had broken would be. For a grade four boy, such bragging rights were important.

The healing power of which the doctor spoke to me does not just reside in the body. It is God’s power that heals the body. After my arm was broken, He made it stronger by healing it. The healing power of the human body is a reason for being in awe of God’s goodness. But the healing power of the human spirit is a much greater reason for being in awe of God’s love.

As Christians, we become stronger and stronger. We gain in strong parts. It cannot be otherwise. If we don’t become stronger, we simply are not Christians.

Let me explain. Sin has a way of seducing us into doing, saying or thinking things that we really do not want to do, say or think. When we do what we do not really want to do, then our sinful nature rejoices, but our new nature feels pain. The weight of a sinful deed becomes a terrible burden to a sanctified heart. And if we do not confess our sin and repent of it, the weight will get heavier until it suffocates our righteous heart.

After we have committed a sin, we will do one of two things. We can keep turning away from God, fleeing his presence and grieving the Holy Spirit in order to hold on to the pleasure of satisfying our sinful nature. If we do that, our love for God will die. Sin has broken us and without healing grace, our spirits will bleed to death. On the other hand, we can stop a sinful pattern, clearly declare in our minds that the sin is evil and that it was very wicked of us to have done it, and then, admit all this to God.

Jesus promises that none of his sheep will be lost. He will search them out and bring them back to the fold. The good Shepherd carries a shepherd’s staff. When the Lord Jesus strikes me with that staff, it hurts. It is not that our Lord is harsh or cruel. He loves us too much to let us go. He will bring us back even though we are extremely stubborn and we “kick against the goads.” He will not permit his elect to be lost. That is a reason for thanksgiving. Yet, because I wander so far, it will be very painful when my Saviour turns me around and brings me all the way back. These are the blows of a friend which are sweeter than the kisses of an enemy. But be sure of this: Our Lord will cause us pain. It will be like the breaking of bones.

God says that it is only those who are crushed and broken that He will accept into his presence. It is only those who have been daily converted, who have repented afresh for sin, who are broken by sin that He accepts. He receives us in order to heal us. He heals spirits at least as well as He heals bones. When we come before Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, He will heal us so that we are stronger spiritually than before. He will, in the end, enable us to gain the victory over the devil until at last we crush him under our feet.