What is the Cure?
Recently, a friend shared his thoughts on a book he read. Impressed by the passion and humility with which he shared his thoughts with me, I set out to find the book. He was not just moved by the book’s contents but moved to be on the right road, serve the one God, and do so without a mask on. But before I reveal the book, let’s take a look at some of the content, and you will see why the book moved my friend.
I am reminded of the poet Robert Frost and his famous poem written in 1915 called, I thought, “The Road Less Traveled.” In a quick research, I discovered it is called “The Road Not Taken.” Today, I am talking with those who believe in God and believe in what Jesus did for those who believe. There are many roads for the unbeliever, and they all lead to death, but there are two roads the Bible talks about, one to take and one to avoid.
In this book, we read about two roads: one is called the road that leads to the Room of Good Intentions, and the other is the road that leads to the Room of Grace. Maybe you know where I am headed with this. The Room of Good Intentions is just that. Well, I intend to do good. I am trying to do better. Are you trying to do better? What happens when I fail and others see that I did not live up to my intentions? We learn in the Room of Good Intentions that the law makes rebels of people who want to love and be loved. Sit on that for a moment. We find ourselves striving to be all God and others expect us to be, while completely disregarding the finished work of Jesus on the Cross.
The elephant in the room is our sin, right? In the Room of Good Intentions, my sin is ever before me. Actually, it is between me and God, and looms so big I can’t see Him clearly. This brings on and amplifies guilt, shame, and more sin as I imagine I will try harder next time. Next time, I will get this right. I ‘intend’ to do better. The saying has been around for a long time. Maybe you are even hearing it in your head right now… Can you say it with me…The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Determined, we back up, start over again, and this time we put on a mask. Just in case we miss it or mess up again, nobody will know. Besides, everyone is wearing one. It’s safer that way, right? According to the authors of the book, the problem lies in unresolved sin; either we don’t know how or choose not to resolve it, which causes us to move further and further away from who we really are as Christians. The real problem with wearing a mask is that I can’t love with a mask on, nor can I receive love.
So let’s leave the Room of Good Intentions and travel on the road leading to the Room of Grace. Here we discovered that we have all of God because He lives in us. That truth alone causes the mask to fall off. The challenge in this place is to let go of sin, realizing Jesus paid the full price for it, so we can walk free. Not without temptation, but free from the guilt and shame of sin, past, present, or future. He empowers us by His Grace, the Grace of the Cross, to embrace the full measure of the love of God.
A.W. Tozer said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” We entertain false thoughts about God that impede our walk as Christians. The authors give these examples:
God can’t satisfy me as much as this sin.
I’ve always been this way. I don’t believe I’m powerful enough to change that.
There is something fundamentally wrong with me.
I don’t believe God has been fully good to me.
I’m going to feel like a failure anyway, so I might as well enjoy it.
If you see yourself thinking any of these things, repent and ask God to show you the truth. Here are the counters to these lies.
God satisfies my every longing.
You are a new creation in Christ Jesus; old things have passed away, behold, all things are new.
The price for my sin-filled nature has been paid for on the cross. Jesus carried the guilt and shame, so I don’t have to.
God is fully good, fully love, and holds back nothing from no one. Only believe.
In Christ, you are more than a conqueror, and you can do all things through Him who gives you strength.
There is only one Cure to this disease called sin, and His Name is Jesus! We are saved by Grace!
There is more to share in Part II. Join me again next Sunday as we conclude. Leave me comments, like, share, and subscribe. Thank you for joining me.
The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.
Dr. Michele
September 29, 2025
