Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5
 

Almost no one likes to go to the doctor for a checkup. However, almost everyone in our society does have checkups at various times in life. For example, pregnant women usually have regular checkups at the doctor's office or health department during the pregnancy term. Then, as soon as the baby is born, he is examined by a pediatrician and nurses. As the child grows and wants to participate in school sports, he is required to get a physical exam from a qualified doctor. Blood tests are required before he gets married. Places of employment often require potential employees to get physical exams. Insurance companies often require them for life insurance policies. And, then, we ourselves want to get "checked out" sometimes just to make sure everything is okay.

The reason that most people dislike going for a physical exam is that they are intrusive. First, there are medical history questionnaires. The questions tend to be quite personal. But this is only the beginning. The patient usually must be at least partially undressed. He is then poked and prodded, bent and twisted and left feeling that everyone on staff in the doctor's office knows more about his body than he does. And if that were not enough, then there are the needles! The whole thing can be quite humiliating. Yet, we endure it because we feel that it is for our own good and the good of our family. Another reason that we often do not like physicals is the fear of what the doctor may say. He may tell you that your health is just fine and to keep up the good work. However, he probably will say that you're over weight and need to lose a few pounds. He may say that you need to cut back on the quantity of salt in your diet or cut out the fat. Your cholesterol may be too high. He may demand that you stop smoking and chewing tobacco. You may have to cut back to one cup of coffee per day. He may even say that you have heart disease or cancer. Yet, is not that the reason that one goes for the checkup? One hopes that everything is okay, but if it isn't, the problem can be found and treated before it is too late. No one goes to the doctor hoping to find out that he has cancer. However, if he does have cancer maybe the doctor can discover it and treat him before he dies.

There are a few self examinations that we can do in the privacy of our own home and by ourselves. For example, one may think that he has the "flu". He can take his own temperature. He can monitor his symptoms and take note of how he feels in order that he can relay this information to his doctor. Even the things that we can do on our own, usually are just preliminary for further work by a doctor. Most of us are not qualified to fully examine our physical bodies, diagnose and treat the problem if it is a serious one.

Many people fully understand the need for a qualified physician's care yet are offended to think that they require help from another spiritually. Folks often become troubled over their soul yet try to solve the problem themselves. Oh, if more people had the attitude of the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch was reading out of the book of Isaiah yet could not understand what he was reading. The Holy Spirit of God directed Philip to go to the eunuch. Philip did and asked the eunuch did he understand what he was reading. The eunuch responded, " 'How can I, except some man should guide me?' And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him." (Acts 8:31) See also Acts chapter ten for the account of Peter being sent by God to help the Roman centurion Cornelius get saved. It is very noteworthy that Cornelius was actively and diligently seeking God yet was unsaved until Peter preached the word to him and the rest of those in the house.

Indeed, both lost and saved need to have spiritual checkups. For example, can you possibly be lost? Now is the time to check it out. Hebrews 4:1 reads, "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." And to the one that is saved, how are you doing? What do you think God would say if you ask Him to "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24) The ultimate reason for any of us to want a spiritual checkup is to find out anything that may be hindering our relationship with God or our being conformed to the likeness of Christ.

Much like physical exams, spiritual exams are quite intrusive, may prove to be embarrassing, and leave you very humbled. God has a way of shining His 'light' into those closed dark areas of our heart that no one else can see. It is amazing how uncomfortable the truth can make us at times. Can you picture your doctor with his little light pointed at the back of your opened mouth and asking you to "say ahhhh?" Not just anybody does that. And yes, there are other things that only the doctor does that NOBODY else could do to you. But, you let him because you want to know that you are okay. God is going to some very private places in your soul. He will also, more than likely, have an assistant with Him. The assistant may well be a pastor, evangelist or even a saved friend.

The question now is, "Are you willing to make an appointment?" Would you like to know the truth about yourself no matter what the truth may be? It takes a lot of nerve. Just admitting to someone that you need to talk about your soul is hard. Listening to what God says may be even harder. Acting on what He says will be the hardest. However, when you consider what may be at stake, you may decide to go ahead and make the appointment. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." (Isaiah 57:15) How important is it that God dwell with you? Beg God for an exam!