New Reminders: X-Rays

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation similar to visible light.  Unlike light, however, x-rays have higher energy and can pass through most objects, including the body.  Medical x-rays are used to generate images of tissues and structures inside the body.  If you have ever fallen and wondered if a bone was broken, you have no doubt had an x-ray taken to check for cracks or fractures. 

An early use of one form of x-ray was the fluoroscope which is capable of showing movement of bones under the skin.  In the 1940s, shoe stores routinely had a fluoroscope machine.  A person could put their shoes into a slot at the bottom of the machine and see if shoes were fitting properly.  Later, it was discovered that repeated exposure to x-rays could be harmful because radiation can cause cancer, and the machines were taken out of shoe stores.

Of course, children especially loved the novelty of seeing our toe bones wiggle and eagerly headed straight to the magic fluoroscope machine to check our feet out every time we got fitted for back-to-school shoes each fall.  Regular x-ray pictures, fluoroscopes and CT scans are still routinely used for medical diagnosis, but exposure is limited, and there are limitations to what can be seen.  We can only see where something like a bone or mass is obstructing the light from going through.  We can’t see what the inside of the bone looks like or what the mass is made of.  However, injuries and irregularities can be detected.

X-rays were used to detect blockages in two of the arteries in my heart.  They showed that I needed to have two stents inserted.  That was several years ago, and I have had no heart problems since they were implanted.  On the other hand, God does not need x-rays to see into our hearts.  He not only sees the need for physical repairs, He sees when we need emotional, attitudinal and behavioral repairs.  “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”  That brings us to the second part of Luke 16:15, which says, “And he said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.  For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.’”  God knows us better than we know ourselves. “Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely” Psalm139:14.

God sees us as we are, not as we would like to project ourselves to the world.  We need to remind ourselves that God is on our side.  He always wants only what is best for us.