Drug ads. They target me on my phone because of my demographic. They interrupt television shows every few minutes, because there's so much money to be made. I usually pay no attention. Until the disclaimers begin. The listing of the drug's side effects. Here are two examples. I won't list the drug names.
1). For a drug recommended for folks who struggle with a bipolar condition. "Elderly dementia patients have an increased risk of death or stroke. Call your doctor about fever, stiff muscles, and confusion, which could be life-threatening; or uncontrolled body movements which may not go away. Risks include potentially fatal high blood sugar, high cholesterol, weight gain, low white blood cells, unusual urges, dizziness on standing, seizures, injection site pain, and trouble swallowing."
2) For a drug to help with insomnia. "Walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities without remembering it the next day have been reported. . .Abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, confusion, agitation, or hallucinations, a temporary inability to move while waking up or falling asleep, or temporary leg weakness have also been reported. In depressed patients, worsening depression including suicide may occur...side effects include next-day drowsiness."
Do you need a moment or two to digest all of that?
Am I the only one who listens to these ads and thinks, "You have got to be kidding me! Why would I contact my doctor and ask for a drug with such terrible, terrifying side effects?"
And yet the ads continue. Pharmaceutical companies spend millions upon millions of dollars on what is called Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) advertising to drive awareness for their product. And desperate, hurting individuals who suffer from bipolar conditions, asthma, insomnia, neuropathy, diabetes, and on and on--desperate, hurting individuals reach out to their doctors and ask, "Can we try this drug? I just can't take this anymore."
Maybe that's you. Maybe some days that's me, too. But the side effects of many drugs are still scary.
But not with Jesus! Never with Jesus! Jesus brings no terrifying side effects that our Lord has hidden in divine disclaimers tucked away in Mark 17 or Revelation 23. (FYI: Neither chapter exists.) Jesus requires no prophets or apostles who use "speed-talking" to rattle off all the bad things that might happen to those who follow him.
Rather, Jesus, only Jesus, brings us only blessings! Here are just a few.
Ephesians 1:7-8 "In him we also have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in keeping with the riches of his grace, which he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight."
Romans 8:1-2 "So then, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
1 Peter 1:8-9 "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, yet by believing in him, you are filled with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope. Indeed, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way we also believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. In fact, we tell you this by the word of the Lord: We who are alive and left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not go on ahead of those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, encourage one another with these words."
Guilt washed away in his blood. Purpose and direction in life. Peace and joy that are grounded in the Lord's unchangeable grace. Heaven, where you and I will be reunited with all our Christian loved ones who have gone on before us, where we will be immersed in the full presence of our Lord, and where we will never need to say good-bye--ever, ever again!
And yet. . .what about that pain that nags at the corners of our brain all day long? The hip that just doesn't seem to get stronger? The numb fingers that cause us to drop the wrench over and over and over again? The deadened feet that struggle with the car's brake and accelerator pedal? The fire in the lower back that explodes when we bend over to the side? Dearest friends in Christ, for all these struggles and so many others, we treasure another blessing that Jesus so graciously gives. “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks, it will be opened." (Luke 11:9-10) And so we pray. We pray knowing Jesus listens. We pray knowing Jesus answers. We pray knowing that with Jesus there are no side effects, only blessings. We pray knowing that Jesus always knows best, even when we really hurt.
2 Corinthians 12:9 "And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will be glad to boast all the more in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may shelter me."
Privileged to Serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
1). For a drug recommended for folks who struggle with a bipolar condition. "Elderly dementia patients have an increased risk of death or stroke. Call your doctor about fever, stiff muscles, and confusion, which could be life-threatening; or uncontrolled body movements which may not go away. Risks include potentially fatal high blood sugar, high cholesterol, weight gain, low white blood cells, unusual urges, dizziness on standing, seizures, injection site pain, and trouble swallowing."
2) For a drug to help with insomnia. "Walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities without remembering it the next day have been reported. . .Abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, confusion, agitation, or hallucinations, a temporary inability to move while waking up or falling asleep, or temporary leg weakness have also been reported. In depressed patients, worsening depression including suicide may occur...side effects include next-day drowsiness."
Do you need a moment or two to digest all of that?
Am I the only one who listens to these ads and thinks, "You have got to be kidding me! Why would I contact my doctor and ask for a drug with such terrible, terrifying side effects?"
And yet the ads continue. Pharmaceutical companies spend millions upon millions of dollars on what is called Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) advertising to drive awareness for their product. And desperate, hurting individuals who suffer from bipolar conditions, asthma, insomnia, neuropathy, diabetes, and on and on--desperate, hurting individuals reach out to their doctors and ask, "Can we try this drug? I just can't take this anymore."
Maybe that's you. Maybe some days that's me, too. But the side effects of many drugs are still scary.
But not with Jesus! Never with Jesus! Jesus brings no terrifying side effects that our Lord has hidden in divine disclaimers tucked away in Mark 17 or Revelation 23. (FYI: Neither chapter exists.) Jesus requires no prophets or apostles who use "speed-talking" to rattle off all the bad things that might happen to those who follow him.
Rather, Jesus, only Jesus, brings us only blessings! Here are just a few.
Ephesians 1:7-8 "In him we also have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in keeping with the riches of his grace, which he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight."
Romans 8:1-2 "So then, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
1 Peter 1:8-9 "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, yet by believing in him, you are filled with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope. Indeed, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way we also believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. In fact, we tell you this by the word of the Lord: We who are alive and left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not go on ahead of those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, encourage one another with these words."
Guilt washed away in his blood. Purpose and direction in life. Peace and joy that are grounded in the Lord's unchangeable grace. Heaven, where you and I will be reunited with all our Christian loved ones who have gone on before us, where we will be immersed in the full presence of our Lord, and where we will never need to say good-bye--ever, ever again!
And yet. . .what about that pain that nags at the corners of our brain all day long? The hip that just doesn't seem to get stronger? The numb fingers that cause us to drop the wrench over and over and over again? The deadened feet that struggle with the car's brake and accelerator pedal? The fire in the lower back that explodes when we bend over to the side? Dearest friends in Christ, for all these struggles and so many others, we treasure another blessing that Jesus so graciously gives. “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks, it will be opened." (Luke 11:9-10) And so we pray. We pray knowing Jesus listens. We pray knowing Jesus answers. We pray knowing that with Jesus there are no side effects, only blessings. We pray knowing that Jesus always knows best, even when we really hurt.
2 Corinthians 12:9 "And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will be glad to boast all the more in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may shelter me."
Privileged to Serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
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