Time for a Checkup

February 2, 2023

This week I got a colonoscopy. Yep. Nobody’s definition of fun. It was inconvenient, a little uncomfortable, quite a bit embarrassing. No one forced me to do it, but I did it anyway. Do you know why? Because I have a wife and family that I love. I want to be able to fulfill my responsibility to them and enjoy life with them as long as possible. I have a calling from God on my life that I want to fulfill. Getting a colonoscopy was the responsible thing to do.

The purpose of a colonoscopy screening is to discover problems and stop them before they get out of control. This scan can not only catch colon cancer early – when it is most treatable – but a colonoscopy can also stop colon cancer before it develops, by finding and removing pre-cancerous polyps.

This is a really big deal. More than 50,000 men and women in the U.S. die annually from colorectal cancer, making it the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. That’s tough to take and understand, because colon cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers.

There is plenty of evidence to show that detecting the disease early saves lives. If colorectal cancer is found before it can spread, the five-year survival rate is about 91%, according to the National Cancer Institute, compared with 15% if the cancer has metastasized. If you haven’t had a colonoscopy in the last two years, I strongly urge you to make an appointment today.

I also want to urge you to make an appointment with God for a spiritual colonoscopy right away. A time with God, allowing Him full access to search your heart, will be very helpful. The Holy Spirit can discover small areas in your life that are not healthy, and you can give the attention needed before the spiritual cancer grows and destroys your spiritual life.

David knew this. He prayed a prayer for God to inspect him for health: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 NLT

God took him seriously. As God searched his heart, He detected the problems in David’s spirit and life and was able to help him deal with them and get rid of the things that would lead to spiritual death.

Physically, when you go through a colonoscopy, cells can be detected that are so small they could never be seen by the naked eye, and they can be dealt with before they get out of control and ruin your life. Spiritually, asking God to search your heart and help you uncover the things that have the potential to bring death as David did will reveal deadly things that seem too small to be seen. But the potential is there for a ruined life and future.

When we ask our loving heavenly Father who only desires the best, who knows us best and loves us most, we need to know there is nothing we can do to cause Him to love us less or more. It is not a fearful thing to ask Him to search our heart. It is an invitation for Him to speak to areas of our lives that if we continue down that path will ultimately lead to death.

Are there pockets in your heart that God might notice? Things like…

  • Unforgiveness
  • Resentment
  • Anger
  • Jealousy
  • Envy
  • Lying
  • Greed

These are things that left untended will lead to struggle and death, but treated will lead to life and health. Make your appointment today!