We here in Nevada were a bit south of the “Path of Totality” for the solar eclipse, but still got to enjoy the show as the atmospheric light dimmed and the temperature diminished. My wife and I got to view the event through approved eye-ware provided graciously by Dr Lovinger. And the sunlight through the trees cast rather ghostly patterns on the concrete surfaces as the eclipse progressed.

I was fortunate to have been able this past May to walk along the “Via Dolorosa” in Jerusalem, and I consider that to have represented a different “Path of Totality”. Jesus was faithfully carrying out the Father’s great salvation plan in total obedience. His path, of course, ended at the cross where He dealt totally with sin, death, and disease.

When Jesus proclaimed, “It is finished!”, history changed. There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) This is a key that unlocks people from their prisons of depression, fear, and hopelessness. It is such a relief to know that one’s sins are forever washed away – past, present, and future – never to be held against him/her ever again. That brings peace and joy!

I see that Jared Kushner is over in the Middle East  trying  once more  to bring peace  between Israel and the Palestinians. It’s good to try, but we know that there will be no peace until the Prince of Peace (Jesus) returns. Are you on the path of peace?

God’s word, the Bible, tells us that there are only two paths to choose from. There is the wide path that the vast majority are on, and unfortunately, that one “leads to destruction”. The other is a narrow path that leads to life, and “few there be that find it”.  (Matthew 7:13,14) If you believe that you are self-sufficient and can make it through life on your own, or with the help of some friends, you are on the wide path. If you have seen and acted upon the reason for the 10 Commandments (to bring you to the end of yourself and to show you that you need a Savior) you have found the narrow path.

Christianity is not about “do’s and don’ts”. It is all about Jesus and what He did. When we celebrate communion, there are two “elements”, the bread and the wine or juice, representing the body and blood of Jesus. We are good at discerning the fact that it was His shed blood that cleanses us from sin (“without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins” Hebrews 9:22), but we often fail to properly discern the importance and effect of His broken body. He became sin to free us from sin, but he allowed himself to be tortured and beaten beyond recognition to free us from physical diseases, as well as mental and emotional ones.

We are too quick to accept sicknesses and diseases as “normal”, and just a part of life in a broken world. But Paul reminds us that this lack of proper discernment concerning Jesus’ body is THE REASON that so many Christians are sick and die early! (I Corinthians 11:29,30)

We have two paths to choose from. God says in Deuteronomy 30:19, “…I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life...” If we reject salvation through Jesus, or avoid making a decision, we choose the broad path and  allow Satan to attack us with diseases and emotional turmoil. If we choose Jesus, we are on the path to health, peace, joy, and every other good thing that you can think of. Both are paths of totality for eternity.

Blessings,

Dr. J