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DIVER’S
DISEASES
Matthew, Mark and Luke each
record the incident relating to the fact that Jesus healed
many people of divers diseases. Luke probably
speaks for all when he says, “Now when the sun was setting,
all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them
unto Him; and He laid hands on every one of them, and healed
them.” (Luke 4:40)
Sickness and disease are as
varied as the people themselves. While there is a
similarity in illness, the effects are invariably
different. Divers diseases could mean almost
anything for it includes everything. There’s
another manifestation of Divers diseases prevalent in our
modern age. It too, has many forms and an almost
endless variety of symptoms. Sometimes it even
reaches epidemic proportions and unless something is done to
counteract it, the results can be very
tragic.
One of the earliest symptoms of a diver’s
disease is seen among people who always dive for the back pew
in church. This makes it embarrassing for families
with small children and parents with babies who are forced to
go nearer the front. It also creates a difficulty
for the ushers when late comers arrive and have to be escorted
to the front after the service has begun. While
this disease can usually be cured with a little courteous
persuasion from the ushers, sometimes complications set in and
it develops into a much more serious disease.
Youthful back seat divers often develop “figititis” which has
been known to cause some to dive into backsliding.
There’s no absolutely certain cure for this
malady.
Further evidence of a diver’s disease is
apparent when the offering plate is passed and people dive to
the bottom of their pockets to find the nickels and
pennies. This is called “deep-pocket diving” and
is considered to be extremely dangerous because it can spread
into deadly covetousness, which the Bible classes as
idolatry. Those who dive for as little as
possible, testify to their low estimate of the worth of the
gospel. Your giving is a Bible yardstick measuring
your love. (2 Cor. 8:8) The best known cure
is to dive into the ocean of God’s mercy and love.
Then, rub yourself vigorously with the towel of
gratitude. Take a big dose of thanksgiving and
compassion mixed in equal parts. Don’t sleep on a
mattress stuffed with selfishness. Replace it at
once with one filled with stewardship, and take daily exercise
working in God’s vineyard. The remedy has never
failed to cure the average patient.
Another form
of diver’s disease is very distressing in the church
service. It begins with quick glances in the
direction of the clock and spreads to calculated looks at the
exits. These people close their hymn books before
the last hymn is finished and then dive for their
coats. As soon as the benediction is pronounced
they dive for the door. These people miss a lot of
the warmth and the fellowship at the close of the
service. The message must always be the most
important part of a meeting, but the smiles and the hearty
handshakes together with a word of encouragement also add much
to a church gathering. Sometimes little children
get restless, but there’s a simple cure for these
divers. Try to get someone to take care of the
children while the service is in progress and the few extra
moments of closing will be the most treasured of all in a
short time.
Some divers are not sick, but they
have extremely bad manners. Just as soon as the
minister begins to speak, some will dive for the ear of a
neighbor and whisper into it. This usually
distracts the attention of everyone nearby. Little
snickers and giggles often accompany this diving, much to the
dismay of all affected by it. Diving into hymn
books can hurt the effectiveness of the message
too.
While many forms of divers diseases may be
seen in church, by no means all are found there.
Some people make a dive for their car on Sunday morning and go
fishing or hunting. They often dive for the
highways and end up in some park or by some stream with their
family and thus miss the inspiration and encouragement of the
church. This particular form of the disease may
afflict people of all ages from youth to old age.
It is highly contagious and usually one suffering from it, is
unaware of the seriousness of the malady for the common
explanation is the: “I can worship God just as well out of
doors as in church.” This is like the drunkards
who say, I can take a drink or I can leave it
alone.” Maybe they can. Seldom if ever
they do. It is best not to get too close to those
who have this disease. They may be
carriers. A settled disciplined habit of attending
church will be all that is necessary to get rid of the
disease.
Diver’s diseases are almost
endless. Some people dive for the TV on Sunday evening
because they’re following some serial instead of attending
church. Others dive for the Sunday paper or bury
themselves in a lurid magazine, running the risk of pollution
of the mind. It is like diving in a pool where the
water is impure because of sewage. Mental sewage
is just as virulent to the soul and will destroy every fiber
of good intentions unless it is ruthlessly destroyed.
“Keep thy self pure,” was Paul’s exhortation to
Timothy. Purity does not just happen.
You must KEEP yourself so. This can only be done
by avoiding that which is corrupt, foul and contaminating on
the one hand, and by cultivating that which is honorable and
associated with godliness.
When Sunday comes
around, some people dive for the golf clubs…and “head for the
greens.” Others dive for the bed and take a long
sleep. Some dive for the shop or the field where
they spend the day, either getting ready for tomorrow or
catching up on some unfinished task. There are
those who dive for the books and make up their accounts while
still others dive for the kitchen and fix the biggest dinner
of the week.
The remedies for divers’ diseases
may be as varied as the divers themselves, but one cure will
be almost universally effective and that is to wake up Sunday
morning, get dressed and eat a good breakfast and then dive
for church. Life is mostly made up of habits…so,
if you form the right ones, you’ll be immune to the wrong
kind.
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