MAKING SENSE OF SICKNESS
Many of us do fell ill at one time or another. It could be the common cough and cold, a bout of influenza and sometimes, a viral fever. For such symptoms, we often will recover in a week’s time when we take the medicine prescribed by the doctor. There are other times where we could be struck with a chronic or genetic disease. For such cases, it may take a longer period before we could be completely restored or at least, the illness can be subjected under control with the right medication. The worst cases would be terminal illnesses where there would be no cure, and we know that our days on earth are limited. What is the cause of our illness?
First, illness could be due to sin. Of course, in a broad sense, all illnesses in this world came about when sin entered into the world. At the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, it was a perfect habitat. Adam and Eve, the first created human beings, would have lived forever, without sickness, pain or old age, if Adam had not sinned against God. Adam was the federal head of mankind. When he sinned against God, he brought not only damnation upon himself but also the whole of mankind. With that, the ground was cursed. We become prone to illness and sickness. And such will continue to plague us as long as we are in our mortal body of flesh and blood.
However, some illnesses are not due to the original sin of Adam, but a specific sin committed in our lives. For example, a person who regularly patronizes prostitutes eventually develops a sexually transmitted disease – his illness will be due to his sin of fornication. Christians are not exempted from sickness. God can cause a person to be ill due to his sin. In the Old Testament, God struck Miriam with leprosy when she rebelled against the leadership of Moses (Num. 12:1-10). It is important for those who are sick, to examine their lives to see if there is any specific secret sin which contribute to their illness. If there is, then he must readily confess them before the Lord and plead for the Lord’s mercy (Jas. 5:14-16). Sickness is a means of God to draw us to prayer.
However, we must not be too quick to judge that all illnesses are due to an individual’s specific sin in his life. In fact, many times illness descends upon a person because of the sovereign purpose of God to manifest His glory. One good example is the case of Job. When Job was plagued with illness, his friends counselled him and concluded that his misfortunes were due to some secret sins in his life. However, Job, after examining his heart thoroughly, could not attribute the evil which befell him to any specific sin. Job was a righteous man, as attested by God Himself, though he was no more than a sinner saved by grace. What he did not understand was the
purpose of God in allowing Satan to inflict him so as to try his faith in God. Job passed his trial of faith with excellence, and he was doubly blessed of the Lord. Sickness is a mechanism where God wants to strengthen your faith in Him. If you are sick, then learn to lean upon the Lord. Have faith in God.
For example, the apostle Paul was struck with a thorn in his flesh (2Cor. 12:7-8). What exactly it was, we were not told. Probably it was a physical infirmity which plagued him greatly, causing him much pain. Paul explained that it was inflicted by the messenger of Satan on him. God allowed it so that Paul would not exalt himself above measure. Paul besought the Lord three times to request that this might be taken from him. Did God fulfil his desire and take the thorn away? No! Instead, the Lord answered him, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Cor. 12:9).
That is God’s marvellous and special providence in delivering us. There are times when we pray to the Lord, the Lord does take away our infirmities. We thank God for His mercy. However, there are also times where the Lord does not take away our infirmities even though we seek Him earnestly in prayer. Instead, He wants us to go through the infirmities by His grace and depending upon His strength. We thank God for His grace. Is your sickness a means whereby God wanted to humble you before Him, and teaching you to depend entirely on His grace for your daily living? Is God perfecting His strength in your weakness?
There is also another good example concerning the purpose of God in illness in the Bible. In John 9, Jesus encountered a man blind from birth. His disciples raised a theological question, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). The disciples were more concerned about theology than ministering to this blind man! What was Jesus’ answer to them? “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:3). Here, Jesus corrected their wrong understanding of sickness. Some illnesses are not attributed to sin, but rather that the purpose of God may be achieved through the illness. Thereafter, Jesus healed the blind man and he became a great testimony of the works of God in his life. Thus, the purpose of God was achieved through the infirmities of the man who was born blind. Is God’s purpose fulfilled through your illness? Have you come to know the living and true God in your life, or bear the testimony of God’s grace through your illness?
If you are plague with sickness, first examine your life before God. If there is any sin, confess them and pray for healing. However, some illnesses are not due to sin but to serve the purpose of God to build up your faith. Then, learn to trust God and depend upon His grace. God can use the illness in your life, though as painful as it may be, to manifest His glory in you. May you learn to praise the Lord. . HCL.
