I use to believe that some illnesses and diseases were either reprimands from God or that He was trying to get our attention. At least that was what I was taught. I have begun to believe differently but there are still those like I was; being taught to believe that when they become ill or their body is attacked by some disease that this may be a message from God or worse that this IS from God, Himself.
I have heard teachings today that teach something different and it got me to thinking about this God I believe in. What do I believe about Him?
Well, I believe He is a good God. I believe He is a just God and I believe He is a loving God. It is because He is absolutely wonderful that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for us so that we would have a way to spend eternity with them.
So how does such a wonderful God cause us to become ill? I know in the Old Testament that God spoke and said that He is the One who gives life and takes it away. He wounds and He heals. And the WORD of God is true. And He sent His Son, Jesus!
Yes, we do reap consequences for choices we make; the lifestyle we choose to live or a really big one is for choosing not to forgive. Unforgiveness causes so much stress, bitterness, anger, restlessness, and so forth that our bodies and minds were not designed to carry and therefore illnesses occur. But this is all because of our own choices. God does not cause us to become sick, it is either by our own lack of judgment or by environment because there is still sin in the world. Take a teenager who has been taught that alcohol is dangerous if it is not handled in the proper way. The mother knows the risk is out there but trust that her teenager will make the right choice. It is still up to the teen to do so. The teenager chooses to drink and then comes home and gets really sick. The mother did not cause her to become ill.
The Bible says in Matthew 7 that if we being evil know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our Father in Heaven give what is good to His. God gives good gifts and I don’t recall an illness being a good gift.
I don’t know of any believing in Jesus Christ parent who would give their child an illness; that would give their child a disease that would cause them pain, suffering or death. Do we think we are better than God, kinder, nicer? No, there is no other like Him for He is the only One good and God is love. Mark 10:17-18; 1 John 4:8
Another thing, if God gives illnesses and diseases, then why are we so eager to get rid of it? Most people I know go straight to the doctor, take all sorts of medications, rest better, eat differently, start exercising, or whatever other means is needed to be well. Please know that I am not saying “do not go to the doctor”. My mother’s career was nursing. I believe God gifts those in the medical community, our doctors and nurses to help others. Luke in the Bible was a physician. I am just questioning why we would get rid of something that we feel God gave us.
Truly Jesus tells us throughout the four Gospels to heal the sick. He not only says heal the sick but he says to heal them from every kind of infirmity and every kind of disease. He, Himself, healed the sick everywhere He went. I cannot find one place in the Bible where Jesus caused someone to be sick.
Jesus also tells us in John 5:19 that He only does what He sees the Father doing and whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same manner. I do not believe that Jesus would ever go against the Father nor do I believe Jesus would ever tell us to go against God. But if we say God gave us this illness or disease and Jesus is telling us to heal, would this not be rebuking the work of God?
Lastly, I am speaking of illnesses/diseases/infirmities that come upon us, not ones that some are born with. John 9:1-3… This Scripture says “As He (Jesus) passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him (Jesus), “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
God loves us, the enemy doesn’t. God wants us to live in abundance here on earth (including divine health); the enemy wants to torment us here on earth. Here, in John 9:1-3, Jesus focused on the man’s need and the Father’s love and His, Jesus’, love for the Father. This Scripture was not pointing to blame but pointing to the goodness and power of God.