BLJ: Balm means a fragrant ointment or preparation to heal or soothe the skin. The balm in the passage referenced below was used medicinally and available more than a day's journey away in Gilead. Even though it was so close, the people refused God's help. Today, the healing for carnality is close by for those who will take the death-route, die to self, and have self crucified by the Holy Ghost. Just like in the Old Testament, people refuse help even though it is close by.
BALM OR BEWAIL
A lay friend, after reviewing a manuscript, wondered about the "Balm of Gilead." The reference obviously was to Jer. 8:22. The prophet went on to ask why there had been no recovery. Multitudes of professed Christians, many of them high officials, have lived and died in the land of no recovery, simply because they would not pay the price, "die out" to their own carnal nature, and get a sanctified heart. There is no balm for those who are walking behind the rejected light of "death-route" holiness.
There was no balm for the Children of Israel who missed it at Kadesh-Barnea. They dug on an average of more than a hundred graves every day for forty years in the wilderness, and not one of those above twenty years old, who missed it at Kadesh-Barnea ever was permitted to enter the Land of Canaan (Deut. 1:39-40). When they camped for two days in one place, they left at least three hundred fresh graves as a mute testimony to rejected light and willful disobedience. Frightening, isn't it? They had never "died out" to their willful determination to have their own way. When God told them to go up and possess the land, they refused to go. Then when God told them not to go, they determined to go (Deut. 1:43). They went, but came back defeated, discouraged, and humiliated (w. 44-45).
BLJ: Self will usually leads to a destructive result. Taking God's way always brings God's results.
There was no balm for old Pharaoh and his hosts when they took the fatal step of rebellion into the death trap of the Red Sea and were swallowed by the receding waters (Ex. 14:28).
There was no balm for King Herod who brushed God aside, and took the glory and was eaten of worms until he died (Acts 12:23).
There was no balm for Pilate who made the public statement: "I find no fault in this man" and then scourged Him and turned Him over to the mob to be crucified (Luke 23:4).
There was no balm for the five foolish virgins when, at midnight the cry rang out, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." The foolish ones were panic-stricken and cried out, "Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out" (Matt. 25:1-13). But they became alarmed too late. The door was shut.
There was no balm for Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Ghost and dropped into hell without a chance to repent (Acts 5:1-11). Those two should have been with the other believers in the upper room on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost fell and purified the hearts (Acts 15:9). We know they were not there when the fire fell because the Word says of those present, that they were ALL filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4). If Ananias and Sapphira had been Christians at all, to say nothing of being sanctified wholly, they wouldn't have conspired together as they did, or lied to Peter and to the Holy Ghost. They were not dead to their selfishness, their possessions, their deceitfulness, their desire to make themselves appear better than they were and their evil influence on each other.
Could we not travel throughout the Bible and across the intervening centuries of church history and find many similar examples? But the point is clear. No, there is no balm for the apostate. He has forfeited his right to the atonement and there remains for him no more sacrifice for sin Heb. (10:26), and no ability to repent (Heb. 12:17).
BLJ: Friend, will you not take the balm and get a holy heart? Take the death-route. Don't settle for the easy way. Christ didn't and He is our example.
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