Salvation without Restoration Would Be Brokenness

From early childhood, the African American Spiritual, There Is a Balm in Gilead; has moved my heart in prayer and meditation.  The complete words are readably available on the internet, along with YouTube videos of it performed.   The chorus is below:

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.

Aromatherapy goes back to Biblical times and Gilead was a region of aromatic substances and spices.  The sons of Israel sold their younger brother Joseph into slavery to an Ishmaelite caravan of traders who were transporting spices and balm from Gilead to Egypt.

Genesis 37:25  And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

It always inspires me to look at the symbolism that God has used to confirm and testify His marvelous plan of salvation.  God promised Abram that “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Genesis 12:1-3  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  (2)  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  (3)  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Every man, woman and child who has ever lived and who ever will live will only have the promise of eternal life in God’s Kingdom through Jesus Christ; who was the direct descendent of Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham. 

Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Jesus Christ is the true “Balm of Gilead,” Only through Him can the wounded be made whole and the sin sick soul be healed.   In our prayers, meditations and Bible study; the healing and restorative promises of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ needs to be our focus.  Salvation without restoration would be brokenness.  Salvation is complete by Christ’s blood that washes, reconciles, redeems and ransoms us from sin and death; and through Christ’s stripes, His fleshly body that was beaten through a Roman scourging.  This complete sacrifice is depicted in communion, taking the Lord’s Supper; the bread (symbol of His body) and the wine (symbol of His blood).  As we have the occasion to take communion in the season ahead; let’s remember the magnitude of the blessing of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior.  Let us embrace the wholeness and oneness that we not only share now, but will live in for all eternity.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your sacrifice, for your awesome gift of life.  You are the Creator, Savior and Sustainer of all life.  Help me to fully understand and appreciate how precious the blood and body of your sacrifice are.  Help me to truly embrace your wholeness and oneness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.