There are questions that all of humanity is asking:
If there is a God, why does He allow the suffering and death of millions of people, especially the very young innocent children?
For Christians : why are we as ill as others? Is it a lack of faith on our part if we have been sick for years? And does God have reasons, which we do not know, for not coming to our rescue even as we cry to Him day and night?
The benefits of religion and prayer on human health
There is evidence that religion and the lifestyle it induces have positive effects on human health.
Indeed, people who practise any religion smoke less, drink less alcohol, engage less in sexual promiscuity or drug use, than those who have no religion. And above all, they are very often supported by a spiritual community, which helps them to face the trials of life.
It is also proven that prayer helps: to manage stress, to acquire greater well-being, more hope; and that forgiveness in particular has a positive influence on our health.
This is easily explained. Indeed, our thoughts and emotions have a direct impact on our health, because our brain acts as a regulator of natural processes.
For example, feeling loved and supported will allow a patient to heal faster, where isolation, worries or sadness will delay his recovery.
The origins of the disease
The Bible affirms that sickness is one of the consequences of sin (not ours) and man’s revolt (Adam) against his Creator. And since the day sin entered the world, God has subjected man to what the apostle Paul calls, in Romans 8:21-22, “the bondage of corruption”, which results in natural disasters, disease, and death.
Romans 8:20-21 « 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. » KJV
The body we have now is deteriorating over the years. Paul, always him, in 2 Corinthians 4:16, formulated it thus: «our outward man perish». And as a consequence of aging, certain pathologies will appear.
2 Corinthians 4:16 « 16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. » KJV
The Christian is as much subject as the others to the bondage of corruption, to the outward man who perish and, consequently, to the sickness that accompanies them. This is the lot of all earthly life and as long as we «inhabit this «tent», this corruptible body, we will know suffering, illness and certainly death.
But one day – and this is what we believe – God will wipe away all tears and eliminate sickness, until death. (Philippians 3:21).
Philippians 3:21 « the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. » KJV
The Word of God, a remedy
Most of life’s sufferings can be prevented by following the Bible and listening to God’s counsel. Healings, and even miracles, happen every day in the world, simply by teaching the Word of God and exercising the faith by those who receive it. Because the Word of God is anointed. It is filled with the power of God to destroy the yoke of bondage, including that of sickness and infirmity. Christ is the Word made flesh.
Acts 10:38 « 38How 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. » KJV
Disease does not exist in Heaven – Let’s bring the realities of Heaven down to Earth
Christ taught us to pray: “Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” In heaven, there are no diseases or infirmities.
He calls us, therefore, to bring down the realities of Heaven on earth; If God does not want diseases nor infirmities in Heaven, He also does not want there to be on earth. And if there is, it’s not because of Him.
Matthew 6:10 « 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. » KJV
It is healing and not sickness that came from Heaven in the Person of Jesus Christ. From heaven came the One who took all the infirmities and all the diseases of humanity (Matthew 8:17).
Matthew 8:16-17 « 16When 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: 17That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. »KJV
Many people have the image of God who sits in Heaven, wondering who He will – or not – heal today. Yet they should know that the decision to heal mankind was made more than two thousand years ago, when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, bore all our sins and diseases upon Him, and was nailed with them to the cross. Healing has already been given to us two thousand years ago at Calvary; and it has continued for two thousand years to manifest itself in the life of whomever believes.
1 Peter 2:24 « 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed » KJV
What was Jesus’attitude during His presence on earth towards illness? He waged a relentless battle with it. And he had the same attitude to sin. Through His work at the cross and His sacrifice, the Lord Jesus laid the foundation for the abolition of sin, our sufferings and all our diseases (Hebrews 9:26-28).
Hebrews 9:26-28 «25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. » KJV
Let us believe that the will of God is that we enjoy divine health, and let us persevere in this hope.
Be Blessed
