Doctor’s Orders
Doctor’s Orders
You were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Cor. 6:20)
As I lay in the room at the outpatient surgery center waiting for my gastroenterologist, I tried to relax. This was going to be my second colonoscopy. I had already made it through the dreaded “prep” the day before, following a liquid diet and drinking a huge quantity of an awful-tasting liquid designed to cleanse the intestines and colon before the procedure.
Although I was supposed to schedule my second colonoscopy three to five years after the first one, I put it off for various reasons: I’m so busy with work. The prep is horrible. I’ll do it later. I want to switch doctors, or do I? Now it was seven years after the first procedure. The previous doctor had found several polyps, and it had certainly crossed my mind that my new doctor might find more polyps—or worse. Have I waited too long?
When the doctor finished, I heard the words, “Everything is fine,” and breathed a sigh of relief. Next time I would follow the doctor’s orders and return at the recommended time.
Americans currently have access to the best medical care in the world. We can visit top-notch doctors who use the latest technology to diagnose and treat their patients. Many diseases can be prevented or are treatable if they are caught in the early stages. But in order to make full use of that medical care, it’s important to take the time to visit our health practitioners for regular checkups.
While God can heal miraculously, He frequently uses modern medicine. So follow your doctor’s instructions about the frequency of visits and scheduling diagnostic tests. Take good care of the body God has given you through proper diet, exercise, rest, and medical care.