Perfect Soundness

"And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” (Ac 3:16 AV)

I know the apostle is referring to this man’s body.  He was lame on both feet and it was through the name of Christ he was completely healed.  Faith in the person of Jesus gave this man perfect soundness.  Upon entering the temple and what would ensue as the greatest salvation recorded as yet, the people wanted to know how this poor beggar could now walk.  Again, I realize this statement is regarding physical soundness.  But I think it could be safe to say that for spiritual and emotional soundness, the promise is equally valid, if not more so.  In time, our bodies will fail.  It is a consequence of the fall.  Because Adam and the entire human race rejected God, death was his and our wage.  That is what Romans and Genesis reveal.  So, those parts of our being that can experience enteral perfect soundness are the mind and heart.  Or the soul, and our minds.  Our bodies await our final redemption.  The glorification granted in eternity will be that which grants perfect soundness.  For our minds and hearts, we need not wait.  Faith in His name can and does result in perfect soundness.

I take these paid surveys all the time.  They want to know my opinion on a new product concept.  It doesn’t pay very much.  Just pennies.  But it is a good way to save for something special.  Anyway, what I have found is the older I get, the more I am loyal to products that have worked for me.  There are brand name products that I will always use.  There are others that I have tried and will never use, even if they come up with a unique way to meet my needs.  Once a product works, I find I stick with it and wait until they come out with a new feature that better meets a need.  This is not always true.  Sometimes, because of a significant price difference, I might switch to a store brand.  I did that with a soap I was using.  Because of a particular condition I have, I need super moisturizing soap.  I was using a well-known brand, and it was working just fine.  However, in the last few years, the price has tripled.  When soap costs as much as a quarter tank of gas, it is time to switch.  So, I bought the store brand.  A third of the cost of what I was using.  And, it actually works better.  So, unless the brand disappoints, that is what I will always use.  Faith in the name of the manufacturer keeps me as a loyal customer.

Faith in the persons of Jesus Christ and God the Father can never be understated.  God can and does do things above what we can ask or think.  His works are gracious to all the people of the world.  Unfortunately, because of the fall of man, we suffer innumerable troubles.  God will not remove the ability of free will.  We have the freedom to choose.  What that means is our choices come with consequences.  This is why we are in a state of unsoundness.  Faith restores what we have lost.  When we are fearful or anxious, we need to remember the name that has made all things well.  This reminds me of the words of Peter.  “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls [to him] in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (1Pe 4:19 AV)  We will suffer.  It is part of the will of God.  Through suffering, we often learn life’s most important lessons.  It is the only way we can learn them.  In those times, however, God does not desire a state of complete insanity.  He would never do that to us.  What He wishes is that in spite of our suffering, we would have a perfectly sound mind.  He wants us to have a perfectly sound heart and soul.  This perfect soundness only comes by faith in the name of Jesus Christ.