WHEN GOD DOES NOT HEAL-1
Sickness and suffering is part of human life. When a Christian is affected by it, he spontaneously turns to the Lord in prayer, asking for healing. When healing does come, it is no small a matter and everyone rejoices over the miraculous work of God. It becomes a sharing point at church and a testimony that is widely circulated. However there are several occasions (perhaps more often) when healing does not come. The Christian is advised to keep persevering in prayer and also reminded by some that he needs greater faith. He tries his best but continues to suffer not only from the pain but also from the confusion in his mind regarding God’s silence.
First, a pilgrim should resist the teaching that associates his sickness with sin. It is true that all sickness and imperfection that we see in us and around us is due to the sinful nature that was created by Adam’s first sin and multiplied thereafter by man’s persistent sin. And so with generations, these imperfections have found root in man, causing him to get sick and be in pain. We could also argue that circumstances like accidents and calamities that bring suffering are again a byproduct of the imperfection in the creation affected by man’s sin. Note Paul’s words in Romans 8
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Creation is not pictured as a neutral, inanimate object but as an active and responsive world that is frustrated by man’s sin and blooms with man’s obedience to God. This might be obvious at times like when man’s greed and pursuit of prosperity brings on a variety of activity including deforestation, pollution etc adversely affecting nature. More often though, the direct link between man’s sin and the decay caused in the creation is not obvious but nonetheless real.
Likewise, every sickness that we see is a byproduct of that imperfection. However the direct link between sin and sickness is often not obvious. So when a smoker develops lung disease, the link might be there to see, but when a person is diagnosed with cancer, it is usually not obvious. So it might be accurate to say that the affected person, like all of us is a sinner and is responsible for his sins. He is guilty before God for his sins like all of us are. However it would be inaccurate to say there is a direct link between his sin and the specific sickness in him. The blind man that Jesus and his disciples encountered generated an interesting discussion that is helpful in this regard.
1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. (John 9)
Tagging a person as sinful because of his sickness is dangerous theology because it generates unnecessary guilt that will only prevent him from coming close to God.
Jesus cuts at the tendency that people have to judge and condemn others, which is the underlying reason why sin is often associated with sickness, more so in others. He also points out from this incident that everything is ordained by the sovereign Lord, who is before all things, so that all circumstances ultimately bring him glory and honor.
More on this later, but feel free to comment.
7 thoughts on “WHEN GOD DOES NOT HEAL-1”
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Thank you brother.
“Sickness and suffering is part of human life.” – this is how you start your blog and it is not true Vinci. Explore the origin of this premise please.
Does the Bible / God say so or is it a devilish thought prevalent in our minds because of the philosophers of the world or what we have experienced in our senses.
We as doctors may have accepted it since we see lots of it in our lives. This is like repeating a lie so many times that many accept it as truth. Many of those are too much for us to handle and we have decided to explain it away in that way.
Does God have us sick and diseased and then heal us? What kind of sick father would do that? Is that God the Father?
God’s plan on this earth for us humans did not have sickness and disease as part of it.
Let us stay on this premise because we build our thoughts and actions and opinions on such premises.
Do not disregard it as a just so sentence.
Thanks Prince,
I do agree that God’s original plan and Eden did not have suffering and sickness. That changed when sin entered this world. God’s final plan for his children also entails an eternal world devoid of pain and tears. Also see Samuel’s comment in this regard.
However to say that our human life does not have sickness or suffering is not accurate. Interestingly whereas many religions and philosophies do try to wish it away, the Bible does provide consistent answers and a solution in Christ to the suffering we see around us.
“WHEN GOD DOES NOT HEAL” – can you even say that? Does that not have a assumption that God does not heal sometimes? It looks attractive and catchy but so devilish.
If that was so then why does He call himself “Jehovah Rapha”? (Ex 15.26). If this is not to heal then He is unreliable and we will not be able to trust Him on anything.
Jehovah is translated as “The Existing One” or “Lord.” The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning “to be” or “to exist.” It also suggests “to become” or specifically “to become known” – this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly.
Rapha means “to restore”, “to heal” or “to make healthful” in Hebrew. When the two words are combined…Jehovah Rapha…it can be translated as “Jehovah Who Heals.” (cf. Jer 30:17; Jer 3:22; Isa 30:26; Isa 61:1; Psa 103:3). Jehovah is the Great Physician who heals the physical and emotional needs of His people.
This is our Father, Vinci. All else is a lie and from the father of all lies. Any other evidence against this is false how much ever “evidence based” it is.
Change your blog’s title, if you can. We cannot spread these lies.
Thanks Prince, for your comments.
The n he prays for healing which does not arrive. The question in his mind ‘Why is God not healing me?’ is the inspiration for the title which is accurate. Briefly in response,
1. Remember Paul’s thorn in the flesh in 2 Corinthians 12 which he specifically asked God to take away. God does not heal him and Paul neither runs away from the reality of the thorn nor does he end up condemning himself in bitterness for the same.
2. Look around and see the experience of Christians around you. Does nobody wrestle this question? On the contrary, I think everybody does. To wish away the question does not do justice to one troubled by it.
3. Finally, even if there is one who has been instantaneously healed every time, what happens to him at the end of his life? Why does he die? In sickness, suffering and finally death, we see the frailty of man and the transience of this physical life.
Being honest is not to discard the question but to find God’s response to the questions we encounter in this life.
God always heals but it has to be understood in a different way. At the resurrection – At the final resurrection , every child of God will inherit the resurrection body similair to that of Jesus. No more diseases. In that way , everybody does get healed. But while now on earth, he may or may not heal us , depending on lot of factors and his will for us . One of the factor for not healing might be lack of faith. But all not healed believer may not have lack of faith. But if he does not immediately heal ,God will give him the spiritual body of Christ at the resurrection and all will spend eternity in perfect health.
Take for example Joni Ericsson Tada , who became a quadriplegic after a swimming accident. That incident broke her down and brought her closer to God and she has been a great blessing to many. Take another example of Nick Vujicic , “life without limbs” man . He has a greater impact through his ministry , because of his faith ,which is in spite of his not having any limbs from birth. Take another example “Soul Surfer”, Bethany Hamilton, who lost her limb in a shark attack during surfing. But God did not have her limb grow. She has a greater impact and ministry because of her disability . All these diseases and disabilities have made these people to depend on God and trust God and grow closer to God. That was God’s will for their life. I know another Mrs.Tracy Artz , who was healed of cancer with medication and continues strong till now. It is God’s will to heal her and use her as his testimony, this way. So God does things differently with different people temporarily on earth , in accordance with his will and purpose for their lives. But permanently he had promised healing for everyone in the spiritual body which awaits us.
God could have healed them any time, if he wanted.
Thanks Samuel, I agree. Examples abound of how God does turn adversity and sickness to greater glory for himself for those affected by it.
From Vinci’s point of view he is right in bringing out the point that , if God does not heal , it need be your fault or his fault. It may be his will , to break the self and ego , to bring it focus on heavenly realities and spiritual pleasures. I think Vinci’s concern stems from the fact that there are lot healers out there who are accusing people of lack of faith, when they don’t experience a healing miracle in their crusade or healing festival.
My point is that we should develop an eternal perspective and know for sure , that if you end up with Christ in the new creation, you will have a spiritual body, in which you will not have any defects whatsoever.
We can ask God to heal us and keep trusting God everyday , knowing that you will be free from all your diseases physical, mental and spiritual one day. It may or may not be today , it may or may not be in this unredeemed universe.
Whatever type of healing anyone experiences is because God has designed the human body in a limitedly repairable way . Otherwise , no healing would be possible.
We must also understand that we still live in a fallen world and many factors will affect our health , from pollution, radiation, food adulterations, pesticides used for growing food products, microorganisms causing epidemics and pandemics, air pollution, our sedentary life style, passive smoking, active smoking, alcohol, road traffic accidents, side effects of drugs, allergies, genetics etc.. All these and more affect our health and can be source of disease. But in the new creation , you will have a perfect body and a perfect environment . God will not fail to give his Children, healing and deliverance from disease which will definitely happen in the world to come.