|
Hello my friend!
Last time I wrote, I started with a question from a friend who wrote to me, essentially questioning how we could hold up good health as a standard for the Believer when so many have learned to glorify God while they were sick or infirm.
Many have taken scriptures such as 2 Cor 12:9 to promote the idea that suffering, not health, should be promoted as virtuous for the Redeemed.
‣ 2 Cor 12:9 And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
With human suffering so rampant (even in this age of "advanced medicine") and with so many who have testified, "My sickness brought me closer to God," it's understandable that Believers could question the pursuit of healing and health — and for those like me to get some pushback. After all, just consider how much teaching there is that suggests that suffering should be promoted, rather than resisted (cp James 4:7).
Allow me to make an observation.
‣ Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.
In this passage, Apostle Peter was summarizing Jesus' earthly ministry — and according to Peter (who was there), what Jesus did was heal the sick! Further, the sick were referred to as, "all that were oppressed of the devil."
Are God and the devil on the same side?
When we read the Gospels, we only see Jesus healing the sick — no exceptions. Take a look at what Jesus said about His earthly works...
‣ John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
‣ John 8:29 And He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.
There was no contradition between the Father and the Son. They were in perfect harmony — and never did Jesus say that someone had to keep their sickness or disease to teach them something, or make them stronger. Never! Instead...
‣ Matt 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
‣ Matt 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick.
‣ Matt 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.
‣ Luke 6:19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue out of Him, and healed them all.
There are many more examples in the Gospels that we could mention. Never is there an example of Jesus NOT healing the sick — unless, of course, someone simply did not come to Him for healing.
To those who believe suffering is virtuous, I would simply ask, then, why Jesus, Who modeled godly character, would spend His earthly ministry destroying something that could teach His disciples good character, or make them more Godly? I certainly see no evidence that our Master and Lord believed sickness or disease was virtuous.
‣ 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
When Believers come to understand the purpose of sickness and disease is to stop our God given destiny, not promote it — and we hate sickness and disease as much as Jesus does — then we'll begin to see the same results that Jesus had! This well-known scripture makes the distinction between the work of the thief and the work of the Master...
‣ John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
These are the words of Jesus. Does it sound to you like He's in favor of anyone being sick, diseased or infirm? Let's make sure we're on the right side!
| 
