Wilt thou be made whole?

In John 5 Christ is going to the pool of Bethesda that is just outside of the temple.  When an angel comes down and troubles the water, whoever enters the water has the opportunity to be healed of whatever physical ailment they have.  When Christ goes to the pool Christ asks a man who had not been able to walk for 38 years "Wilt thou be made whole?"  The man doubts and wonders how he could possibly be healed when there is no one to put him in the water when the angel troubles it.  Jesus simply says "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."  Of course we all know the ending, the man is able to walk! After 38 years! He stands up on those weak feet and those wobbly knees miraculously have the strength carry him.  Yes this miracle is amazing, and the change of heart that the man's heart experiences is incredible as well.  However, I want to focus on the question that Christ asks this man.  He asks, "Wilt thou be made whole?"

Of us, Christ asks this same question, Wilt thou be made whole?

How many times does Christ ask this of us?  Wilt thou be made whole?  Will you use this Atonement to cleanse yourself?  Will you use it to provide yourself with the strength that you didn't think you had?

Strength enough to walk after 38 years.

Strength enough to return to church after 50 years.

 Strength enough to change your heart.

Strength enough to do overcome ANY temptation or to cleanse ANY sin.

But we have to CHOOSE.  We have to consciously make the decision that we want to be made whole.  And there is a big difference between being healed and being made whole.  Healing is temporary, being made whole lasts much longer.  Healing is physical, but being whole is spiritual and emotional.

Wilt thou be made whole?

To those who feel they are already whole, I say, sadly it is not so.  Each of us are in need of Christ and the cleansing He brings to us.

To those who feel that it would take a miracle for them become whole, I say, so it is for all of us.  The Atonement is the greatest miracle that has ever happened on this earth and through the Atonement our sins are washed away.  I echo the words of President Thomas S. Monson when he said, "There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what that beacon light can rescue." I testify that Christ is that beacon, that if we turn to him we will never be lost.