Sermon Illustrations

INOCULATIONS FROM THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

The summer of 1980 was a very different summer for many of us. Most had just graduated High School and were away from home for the first time. Up till this time we had chosen our own clothing and color schemes, but that was a distant memory to us now. Everyone was dressed the same and the color was Olive Drab Green.

We not only lost our ability to choose our style of clothing, but also what we would eat, when we would eat, when we would go to bed and when we would get up. We lost our privilege to ride or drive and instead would either walk or run everywhere we went.

I thought I had seen the last of a needle years ago, but in Uncle Sam's Army those distant injections were a fond memory.

I remember going into the medic tent with the other 200 or so recruits and having a medic come out and tell us what was about to happen. We would get a series of inoculations [17, I believe] that would be administered to us as we walked through the Medic Tent. He gave us a word of caution, "We are using a new High-Pressure injection technique. When the medic tells you to be still, you BETTER BE STILL or the pressure will cut you to the bone!"

I was about halfway into the line and was watching the guys in front of me and how they reacted. I saw some twitch and have a small cut that bled pretty good, but I saw a couple that jerked away and literally had their arms sliced to the bone from the force of the injection! Needless to say, I could not have remained more still when it came my turn.

Following the instructions of the Medic proved very much helpful. The inoculations did not even make me sore. The Vaccines were prescribed to keep the Soldiers well for the battle that may lie ahead, but some fought against the injections and paid a pretty severe price.

The same is true when the Christian pulls away from the inoculation prescribed by the Great Physician to keep us healthy for the battle that lies ahead. The vaccine is "good" for us to keep us from being negatively affected by the environment in which we may find ourselves. But, how many Soldiers "jerk back" when they feel the pressure the Great Physician applies and cause themselves unnecessary misery.

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