EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE

My least favorite thing to do is visit the dentist. In our modern age, the dentist has a range of anesthetics that take away the severest pain. Even so, just the possibility of experiencing pain in my mouth is enough to taint my perception of dentistry.

Approximately two months ago, one of my molars became abscessed. The dentist was extremely sympathetic. He put me on antibiotics with the intention of pulling it. You see, an abscessed tooth cannot be numbed. He told me he didn 't want to hurt me. I told him that I didn't want him to hurt me. All was for naught. After a month of antibiotics and three visits, he gave up and sent me to an oral surgeon.

I must admit that I still had misgivings. I did not see how I would be able to escape without experiencing pain. The day came and I arrived at the surgeon's office. When the time came, I was placed in the dental chair and prepared for the extraction. They place a small cup attached to a hose over my nose and instructed me to breathe in through my nose and breathe out through my mouth. It wasn't long until I began to feel relaxed. Suddenly, someone grab my hand and said you will feel a stick. So what, who cares, go ahead, stick me, I don't care. The dentist came in and began explaining what he was going to do. Three things he said caught my attention. He said, you are getting nitrous oxide [laughing gas], I am going to numb the tooth with Novocain, and then we are going to give you a twilight drug so you wont remember anything. All right! Go doctor, do yo thang! Why aren't all dentist 's visits like this. I think I will come here for all my dental work. Wow, I feel good now, like I knew that I would! I feeeeel good, yeah! Hey doc, can I come back tomorrow and get another one pulled?

I was in an euphoric state of mind when my wife came to help me exit the premises. However, there was one last thing to do. The bill had to be paid.

As I waited for my bill, I explained to the office staff how much I appreciated the wonderful job everyone did and that I was feeling no pain. The bill was presented to me and my euphoria came to an abrupt halt. The time of reckoning had come. The experiences of the present must be paid for in the future.

Satan has anesthetized some to the point their ears are dull of hearing (Hebrews 5:11). This state of mind blocks out the pain of an ungodly life. This causes sin to be a pleasurable experience (Hebrews 11:25). Sadly, there is coming a day in which a recompense of reward will be meted out to the sinner because sin has wages (Romans 6:23; Galatians 6:7-10).

You may be happy with your life because Satan's anesthesia is working on you. Know this, the bill will eventually be due and payable. (Matthew 25:46).

Miss, excuse me, but are you sure you added up my bill correctly?

By Glen Young

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