“LIVING WITHOUT MIXTURE:  A MEDICAL COMPARISON”

Prior to entering into fulltime ministry in 1992 I worked as a Respiratory Therapy practitioner and educator for almost 20 years.  During that period I worked with and taught about many patients who had disorders that prevented their blood from being effectively oxygenated.  It is usually a heart or lung disorder that causes the blood returning from the tissues and depleted in oxygen to be unable to become effectively re-oxygenated before it is sent out again to the tissues of the body.  This returning, oxygen-depleted blood is called “venous blood” and the oxygen-rich blood that goes out to the tissues is called “arterial blood.”  When a problem occurs whereby this exchange of oxygen is impaired and a greater percentage of venous (oxygen-poor) blood mixes with the arterial (oxygen-rich) blood, it is referred to as “venous admixture.”  Another way of thinking about it is that the “pure” blood is being contaminated by the “impure” blood, and the result being that the rest of the body does not receive enough of one of it’s most essential nutrients for function—oxygen.

APPLYING THE MEDICAL TO THE SPIRITUAL

Just about now you are probably wondering, “Why am I getting this pathophysiology lecture, and how does this relate to my relationship with God?”  I believe that the Lord often uses our experiences to help us understand more about Him and how we relate to Him and to one another.  Jesus Himself spoke in parables many times in bringing his message to the people.  Not too long ago Denise and I were talking about the relationship between functioning in ministry and the condition of soul of the one who ministers and the Lord brought the concept of “venous admixture” to my mind.  As I allowed myself to ponder this I began to see how this medical concept has application to the spiritual.  Let me share a few of these thoughts with you.

THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ADMIXTURE 

When a disorder exists that result in venous admixture, the extent of the defect determines how much mixing occurs.  If the problem is in the early stages and is mild in nature, there may be minimal signs or symptoms that the patient is aware of—especially when the patient is at rest.  A discerning practitioner, however, may still be able to detect the problem at this point.  When the patient is placed under stress or is required to exert himself, the problem becomes more noticeable.  When a disorder worsens, the lack of oxygen affects the brain and interferes with its ability to carry out its function.  Normal thought processes are impaired and can result in some degree of interference or “disconnection” between the head and other areas of the body.  When the disorder worsens still and the oxygenation problem becomes extreme, different parts of the body begin to malfunction and shut down (i.e., kidneys), which can result in waste products building up and the entire body becoming “contaminated” by this initial disorder.  When treating the medical disorder, the focus must be on the primary problem (i.e., a defect in the heart or lungs).  Supportive measures are taken (i.e., medications, supplemental oxygen, supportive ventilation, etc.), but if treatment of the primary problem does not occur, the end result will be a worsening of the situation and potential death to the body.  The longer the time between the onset of the problem and when treatment begins, the more difficult the recovery period and the greater potential for damage to other parts of the body.

THE SPIRITUAL EFFECTS OF ADMIXTURE

When an area of our soul (mind/heart, will and/or emotions) has been injured and is in need of healing, we experience a degree of “mixing” of Godly and ungodly thought processing and resultant behaviors.  The initial problem may not be that noticeable, particularly by the person who has the “disorder.”  However, a person with good discernment can often detect that a problem exists.  When the person with the disorder or injury experiences an event that causes additional emotional stress, these “signs and symptoms” become more noticeable.  When the emotional disorder gets worse, the effects on that person’s thoughts and behaviors become more significant, and there often is a “disconnection” that occurs.  The person struggles with emotionally and spiritually “keeping things together” internally and other people in this person’s “sphere of influence” (the “body”) become affected as well.  They may feel this disconnection or alienation from the person with the problem.  Finally, when the disorder or problem become extreme, the individual’s emotional and spiritual life begin to malfunction and even shut down, and the contaminating effects of the ungodly thoughts, feelings and behaviors on the afflicted individual and on the “corporate body” that is connected to this person becomes profound.  Treatment for a person with emotional/spiritual injury or sickness requires dealing with the primary or “root” problem.  Treating the symptoms may be necessary to help the person move through the healing process, but if the primary, root issues are not addressed, things will not only get worse for the affected individual but those parts of the “body” that are still connected may suffer irreparable harm.   

I WILL RELEASE MY POWER WITHOUT MEASURE

David in Psalm 24:3-4a writes “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?  Who may stand in his holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart . . .” (NIV)  Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount (the Beatitudes) addresses the issue of purity when He states, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matt 5:8 NIV).  Being “pure of heart”is not about being “perfect” or walking in a “sinless state.”  It is not about entering into some religious activity to try and make ourselves pure.  It IS about having our mind, heart, will and emotions open to the Lord’s examination and living with a desire to avoid the “mixture” of the holy and the unholy—the clean and the unclean.  Paul Cain, one of the most respected prophetic voices of our day, once stated that the Lord spoke to him and said, “to a church without mixture I will release my power without measure” (paraphrased).  Let us continually be open to the Holy Spirit as He desires to reveal our need for continued healing so that we can come into even greater intimacy with Jesus and the Father.  Let us not be satisfied with less when He desires so much more for us!    

From the Father’s Heart,

Jerry Basel