The Old Testament gives us many illustrations for evangelistic purposes. The story of Naaman is an excellent analogy for us. Leprosy in his day was considered incurable and we can compare it to sin. Leprosy was not confined just to the poorer class of people either. Both Naaman of the Old Testament and a man known as Simon the Leper in the New Testament had the dread disease; and neither of them was from the poorer or lower classes of society. It was so much like sin. St. Paul said we are all in need of God’s redeeming power, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Naaman was a great man, a captain of the army. We would call him Commander of the Syrian forces. It takes a great man to fill such a position.

And Naaman was a man of honor, mighty in valor. As a result of his victories on the battlefield, he was highly regarded. Undoubtedly, if he lived today, he would wear the Presidential Medal of Honor or be decorated for distinctive service.

Naaman was a proud man, as we shall see, and he was anxious to have his health restored. Among the captives taken in battle with Israel was a house maid for Naaman’s wife. When the maid heard of the leprosy, she told her mistress about the prophet Elisha in Israel. The maid was sure that Elisha could work a miracle in the great soldier’s life and restore his health. Such was the faith of a mere house maid!

So the word spread to Naaman, and eventually to the King of Syria who wanted his chief military man to be made well. So the king offered to send a letter to the King of Israel to assist in harmonious relations that would bring a cure. Naaman took with him to Israel ten talents of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing - a caravan whose total value was from eighty to 100,000 dollars.

It frightened the king, Jehoram of Israel, to have such a gift delivered to him. But Elisha sent word that this would give Israel an opportunity to let Syria know of the religion of Israel, a religion of the supremacy of Almighty God. Syria had nothing to match this.

Naaman then went to Elisha’s house, only to be told that if he wanted his health restored, he must go wash himself in the Jordan River seven times. Now, Naaman was a proud man and he balked. He had thought that Elisha at least would come out of his house and make a big fuss over him, then call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike the place on the leper’s body where there was disease. Not so! Naaman had a lesson coming about preconceived beliefs.

Churches have even been started from preconceived ideas about religion. Such movements do not usually last because they are man’s ideas. God moves in His own ways, and it is our responsibility to learn those ways.

Some people have thought that, if they build a big, beautiful church, God would bless them with attendance and money. The past ten years have proved how faulty that idea is. In some cases, attendance was lower after the building campaign than before.

Others thought that, if they could spend a lot of money on programs, it would suit God to send them a blessing. That doesn’t seem to be the answer either.

Some have compromised and turned to secular inspiration, bringing it into the church, only to find that doesn’t meet God’s will for the church.

There is a need for us in the church to re-think our goals and objectives, to see where the need is, and to seek God’s will and ask His leadership in meeting the need. Man’s ideas are not always the right way.

Naaman objected to the muddy Jordan and asked why he could not wash himself in Abana and Pharpar, rivers in Syria, that were clear mountain streams. He could not see the symbolism of cleansing in the muddy River Jordan.

What a wonderful lesson this is! God may want us to go into what we consider a place below our dignity. We may have to serve Him in a poor neighborhood instead of in suburbia. Ministers have to learn this lesson to be effective. Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the noted missionary in Africa, was working one day with common laborers as they put up some timbers in constructing a building. Needing more help, he turned to a bystander and asked if the man might give them a hand. The bystander said, "No, I’m an educated man!" As if education took away the necessity for a person to work with his hands sometimes. Dr. Schweitzer’s command was incisive: "I felt that way, too, once upon a time!" It is amazing what dedication can do to a person, what lessons God teaches the listening heart.

Naaman did swallow his pride and listen. How did it come about? His servants reasoned with him, "If the prophet had asked some BIG thing of you, would you not do it?" Compare that with the modern question, "If God asked you to raise $50,000 to guarantee you eternal life, would you try to get it?"

We agree that this is not the way to salvation, but at least it did point out to Naaman that the request of Elisha was not so bad after all. So Naaman submitted.

Now, let me ask you to use your consecrated imagination. Much of what transpired was psychological, but it was God at work in this man’s life. Seven times he must dip in the Jordan. Seven times! Once would not be enough. We see Naaman as he went to the Jordan River and dipped himself in it, then looking at the leprous spot. Oh, but he was angry.

Still, the prophet had said seven times, so Naaman went into the water the second time, emerging from the mud and the mess, checking himself to find that he still had the leprosy. He was not so angry then. The third dip - he was mentally arguing about it - was this the thing to do? How many people are kept from the Kingdom of God because they can’t get past arguing the merits and demerits of the church or Christianity or if it’s the right thing to do?

As Naaman went into the water the fourth time, could there be some hope for him? The anger was gone; he would go again. He dipped the fifth time, still no cure. Then the sixth time: O God, could it be? Not yet! Naaman was in a hurry; we are in such a hurry. Then came that dramatic moment when the man of valor and might dipped himself the seventh time in the Jordan River and was healed. Elisha said, "God in peace."

When we are willing to let God tell us what to do, to be obedient to His will, we are cleansed of all our sin. God cares. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). The River Jordan is but a symbol of the cleansing of one’s body before God. He will let us know what we are to do to stand before Him in all His holiness and purity. Remember the gospel chorus:

"Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wondrous compassion and purity;
Oh, thou Spirit Divine,
All my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me."

This brings us to the very heart of the matter. It means we must go all the way with the Lord. A lady had a dream in which Jesus came to her house. When He knocked on the door, she invited Him in, of course! Oh, maybe she took a quick look around to see if there might be something that she ought to put out of His view. After some talking, the Master said, "Perhaps you didn’t understand me. I have come to stay."

She answered, "I am delighted!" Then, producing some keys, she gave one to Jesus and took Him to a room. "This room can be yours," she said.

He turned away, answering, "I am sorry you do not trust me. Goodbye."

"Wait!" cried the lady. "Why do you leave?"

Jesus looked at her and said, "You have other keys."

The woman agreed. "Well, yes," she said, "these are keys to my own room, to locked drawers of valuable things that no one but I can see."

"Then, if that is true, I must go," was the Master’s reply. "If I stay in your home, you must trust Me. Every room, every drawer, every box must be open to my inspection."

The lady awakened from her dream and surrendered all her life to God. We can learn from her dream.

You may need to recommit your life to Him. When Queen Victoria first came to the British throne many years ago, the whole of India was not yet under English control. The Punjab was brought in and, to show allegiance to the throne, the Maharajah, who was then but a boy, sent a wonderful jewel - the Koh-i-noor diamond. It is to this day a treasured jewel in the Tower of London.

Year later, when a grown man, the Maharajah visited England and went to Buckingham Palace to pay his respects to the Queen. After the formalities of introduction, he made an unusual request -- could he see the Koh-i-noor diamond?

Wonderful woman that she was, Queen Victoria ordered that the jewel be brought and placed in his hands. He accepted it, turned to the nearest window and looked at the diamond in sparkling sunlight. Then, turning back, he knelt before Victoria and said, with emotion in his voice, "O Queen, I gave you this jewel when I was too young to know what I was doing. I want to give it to you again, now, in the fulness of my strength, with all my affection, fully realizing what I do." The Queen accepted the gift graciously.

Like many people, you may have decided in your childhood to love Jesus. Well and good! Too often it is a choice forgotten or dimmed by the years. Like the Maharajah of Punjab, we need to recommit ourselves - to give anew the gift we gave to God.

Naaman, the leper, had to surrender entirely to God. You and I must surrender also. Give you life to God - now!