BIBLE
DIGEST - Number 52
April 1995
WHEN CHRISTIANS GET SICK
By Allon Maxwell
|
“Is
any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer
of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he
has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one
another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous
man has great power in its effects.” It is a fact of
life that Christians do get sick. When that
happens, the passage quoted above, is regularly MISUSED by well meaning, but
ignorant Christians, to say ineffective prayers which lack power
and waste a lot of olive oil! The problem
certainly does not lie with the truth of the Scriptures, nor with its
relevance to our time. The real issue is our persistent failure to perceive
that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God”.
(Matthew 4:4) Indeed, within
the passage itself we can find several “words from the mouth of God”
which are often ignored, and which give rise to many of the failures. FIRST FIND A
REAL ELDER! The first of
these words of God which we need to address, is the requirement to send for
the elders. Finding real
elders is a vital element of the procedure. If God says to call the elders,
and we then ask men to pray who lack the Biblical qualifications for
eldership, we must not be surprised if nothing works! Only a real
elder can be expected to have the mature faith and wisdom required to deal
with the situation, and then say the prayer of faith which will guarantee
success. Only a real
elder will know the meaning of waiting upon God for freedom to pray in the
will of God. Only a real elder can be trusted to know when to hold back if
other important conditions are not met. MEN (and not
women!) who are elders will meet the standards laid down in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 & Titus 1:5-9. No less than
deacons, (1 Timothy 3:10) Elders must
be tested honestly by these standards, and proved blameless, before
their ministry can be accepted as valid. There can be no
compromise or watering down of these standards, just to make it easier to get
a prayer said. What matters here is not only that a prayer is said, but
who has authority from God to say it. Elders must
meet these standards, or they are not truly elders. There is no room here for
the common misconception that regards men as elders, just because they were
first past the post at a democratic election conducted by family and friends!
God's Kingdom is not a democracy! It does not run on the results of a popular
majority vote. There is no
room here for politics or party spirit. Nor is there room for men seeking
social status above their fellows, or men driven by covetousness, carnal
ambition, envy, or lust for power. They must be
the husband of one wife, ..... not the wife of
one husband! There are no female elders in this inspired list of
qualifications. They must be
currently married to that one wife, (not widowed and single, or remarried,
...... not divorced and single, or remarried to a second wife). They must be
fathers whose children are believers, (which leaves no room for those who
have no children, or whose children are backslidden, ..... and certainly no
room either for bachelors who have never learned to keep a family in
subjection!) They must not
be novices, immature in the faith. Nor does a young pastor, fresh out of
Bible College, qualify for any reasonable use of the term “elder”. They must be
holy men, living holy lives, which show the real fruit of the Holy Spirit.
This fruit must be visible. It is the visible token of the presence of the
Holy Spirit, which will also be the source of the power required for their
work. (If there is no fruit, how can we have faith that there will also be
power?) They must hold
firmly to the “sure word” themselves, for how else can they be trusted to
give reliable counsel to those they are called to pray for? This leaves no
place for those “elders” who are compromised on the teaching of Jesus, in any
way. The Sermon on
the Mount is just one example of many areas, in which too many of those who
claim the authority of elders, lack this vital qualification. Just what do
they teach and practise? Specifically,
what do they teach and practice about loving enemies, not resisting evil,
turning the other cheek, going to law, swearing oaths, going the second mile,
or divorce and remarriage, ..... and all the rest of it? Do they agree exactly
with Jesus? Or are they compromised? You can argue
about the validity of those things if you wish, but the truth is that we
ignore them at the peril of those who need real elders to say the real
“prayer of faith”. MEN LIKE ELIJAH James says that
when he talks about elders, he has in mind men like Elijah! When he says that
Elijah was a man like us, he is not saying that it is men who operate
on the ordinary human level of mediocrity, who get their prayers
answered! Rather, he is
encouraging other men to believe that as men of like nature with Elijah, they
too can lift their game to Elijah's level! We are reminded
of the superior quality of Elijah's relationship with God. We are reminded in
particular of two prayers, where Elijah asked for and received miraculous
answers granted to few other men. These prayers
also serve to remind us of the special nature of Elijah's communication with
God. We learn that Elijah was on direct speaking terms with God and that it
was God himself who told Elijah where to wait, ..... what to pray
for, ..... and when to pray , to end the drought. (1 Kings 17:1-5 & 1 Kings 18:1) It is elders
who stand before God in the Spirit and power of Elijah, who are called to
pray this prayer of faith. That is the
real point of James' mention of Elijah. We desperately need as elders, men
who know that they have heard from God, and can act on it without fear
or favour of men. The importance of that will become obvious as we look at
some of the things which must be discussed with the sick person, and
resolved, before there can be liberty to pray. WHAT IF THERE
ARE NO ELDERS? It would be
better to have no prayer at all, than to go through the time wasting and
possibly faith destroying exercise of praying with men who lack the
qualifications and authority of real elders! However, if
real elders are needed, and none are immediately visible, then we will need
to fall back on God to find them for us. If we cannot find elders, God
surely can, when we humble ourselves to confess our need of his divine
intervention. Indeed it may
well be that God is seeking to bring the sick person to that very point of
extremity and final surrender; where the genuine cry of a broken heart and a
contrite spirit, is ever so much more important than the healing itself. (Psalm 34:17-19 & Psalm 51:17) If that is
perceived as the real priority, then when we do meet some real elders,
they will be men who will not pray until they know that point
has been reached. LET HIM CALL
FOR THE ELDERS The emphasis
here is on who calls for the elders! James says, “let him call
for the elders”. (NOT, let the elders call on him!) Real elders
will not force themselves on someone who is not yet ready to humble
themselves, expressing their desire, and admitting their need for this
ministry, by initiating the call. Too often, we
see “elders” presenting themselves on the doorstep, oil in hand, and ready to
pray! This is the
wrong way round! Few have the
courage to say “no” to strong personalities determined to say a prayer! And
those who are not ready to be prayed for, may not yet even be aware why that
is so! Such imposed prayers will seldom be real prayers of faith! CONFESS YOUR
SINS This is a key
element of what James says. There are indeed sicknesses where the origin is spiritual.
The cure in such cases is also spiritual. It will not be found in a doctor's
surgery, or in psychiatry, or psychology, or in “alternative medicine”. Nor, we mention
specifically, will it be found in a bottle of Valium or a handful of Prozac! While it is
certainly true that not all sickness is the result of sin , it
is also true, in this context, that James has specifically mentioned
the confession of sin. We must not ignore the possibility that there may be
sin which must be confessed before healing can be granted. That question
must be raised, discussed and resolved, before there is any attempt to pray. “If favour is shown to the wicked, he does not
learn righteousness.” (Isaiah
26:10) If there is no
sin to be dealt with, then nothing is lost by clearing the air. If there is sin
to be confessed and forsaken, everything will be gained. COMMUNION AT
CORINTH James is not
the only New Testament writer to raise this as a possibility. Paul also says
that sickness, and even death, are possibilities for those who take the
Lord's supper unworthily. (1 Corinthians 11:27-32) I know about
this subject at first hand. I have been there myself, sorely chastened, and I
have also known the Lord's healing touch, ..... but only after my heart was
broken, and I faced my real need. THE FRIENDS OF
JOB While we must
never discount the possible need for confession of sin, we must also be
careful to avoid the mistake of the friends of Job, who were too willing to
attribute sin where there was none. Yes, sickness
can be caused by sin. It can be the chastening hand of God at work. However
we must also remember the story of the miracle of the healing by Jesus, of
the man who was born blind. In answer to
his disciple's questions, Jesus made it quite plain that this man's blindness
was not the result of any sin on the part of either the man or his
parents. Nor was Jesus interested in discussing any other cause of its
“medical origin”, This blindness was to be seen only in the context of its
present opportunity “that the works of God might be made manifest in him.”
(John 9:3). This is why
James has reserved this ministry for Elders, and not for others. This is a task
for men who walk closely with God and can hear clearly when God speaks to
them. This is a task
for men who can be trusted to deal faithfully with the secrets of other men's
hearts; to whom sinners will unburden themselves, as unto God. This is a task
for men who will not proceed until they know the truth about whether
or not there is a need for confession of sin; neither levelling false
accusations against a righteous man, nor glossing over things that must
be faced in honesty, and dealt with, (including any necessary restitution). THE OIL OF JOY In the records
of the healing miracles of Jesus himself, oil is not mentioned at all. Nor is it
anywhere specifically commanded by Jesus, that oil must always be used when
praying for the sick. However, it is
mentioned (just once) that when the disciples were sent out by Jesus to
preach the Gospel of repentance to the Jews , they did anoint the sick
with oil when praying for their healing. (Mark
6:13) It is
significant that this other brief reference in Mark, contains all the same
elements mentioned by James. *
James wrote specifically to Jews.
(cf James 1:1
& Matthew 10:6, which parallels
Mark's record) *
Repentance from sin is an
essential element of the message. (cf James 5:16 & Mark 6:12) *
Oil was used. (cf James 5:14
& Mark 6:13) In the strictly
Jewish culture of the Jewish author, James, the oil has a special significance.
For Jews, of that time, it was a common practice to anoint themselves, daily,
with oil. When fasting, they refrained from using the oil. Thus it seems
likely that a Christian Jew , sick because of sin; fasting in
repentance; and ready to call the elders to confess his sin; would have been
anointed with oil by the elders as a token that the time for fasting had
ended. Significant
references to the use of oil include: *
It is the Oil of Gladness
with which Jesus was anointed above his fellows. (Psalm 45:7) *
In Isaiah
61:3, it is the Oil of Joy given to those who mourn for
their sins in ashes. The Oil of Joy
is, of course, the Holy Spirit, (which produces the fruit of the Joy
of Salvation). To this joy, the broken and repentant King David sought
desperately for restoration, after his sin with Bathsheba. (Psalm 51:10-12) Should oil
still be used today, in conjunction with this prayer? Perhaps a case
might be made for Gentile Christians to ignore the use of oil as a cultural
thing. And we could certainly make a valid case that oil is not always necessary
in every situation. However in this
paper, we are not discussing every situation. We are discussing the special
case described by James. I suggest therefore that if we are going to take
license from what James says, to pray for the sick in that special context,
then we are obligated to accept the whole passage at face value, (just as we
do the requirement specified elsewhere, to use “much water” in baptism.) This is one of
many points which will separate the elders from all the rest. An elder
walking close with God and with the word of God hidden in his heart, would
know when to apply the verse in James; when to use oil; and when not. Of course the
oil itself has no special merit, any more than the water used in baptism. To
use the oil in a mere legalistic ritual would be no better than witchcraft. What matters is
the state of a man's heart before God, and what he is saying to God, and
confessing before men, by using the oil. Nevertheless we
do rightly insist on the use of water in baptism! Why should we not do
the same with the oil, in this special context? The requirement
by James that oil should be used, is amongst all the INSPIRED New
Testament words of God by which the righteous live. Of course, if
oil is to be used at all, it must surely be used with understanding of what
it means. Given that
understanding, it is not mere legalism which insists on the oil. In its own
special setting, it is the same sort of submissive response as that made in
baptism. It is the
obedience of a child of God, made from a heart which is appealing to God for
forgiveness and the renewal of a clear conscience, ..... and healing,
...... in the way appointed by the inspired Word of God. Viewed in that
light, it becomes as important as the meaning of the water used in Baptism,
or the bread and wine used at the memorial feast. A man whose
heart is truly broken and contrite before God, will not argue with God, or
men, about what he must do to be forgiven and healed! Nor will a
real elder encourage such a man to ignore any of the divinely ordained
steps laid down as a requirement for renewal. A heart desperate for
forgiveness and healing, will simply obey. MORE WORDS FROM
GOD'S MOUTH. I have heard it
insisted by some, that what James says is an absolute guarantee of
healing, in all circumstances, hindered only by lack of faith on the part of
those who pray. That philosophy
ignores other equally important words from the mouth of God. Certainly,
faith is important. Without faith the mountain can never be cast into the
sea. However there is a great distinction between what is real faith and what
is mere human presumption. One of the very
great causes of failure, is the PRESUMPTUOUS prayer of men who ignore other
words from the mouth of God, which also relate to sickness and
affliction. If we ignore
these we can find ourselves fighting AGAINST God, rather than working for
Him! Some of these
other important words from the mouth of God are discussed below. THE PATIENCE OF
THE PROPHETS AND THE ENDURANCE OF JOB Healing by the
prayer of the elders is not the only subject discussed by James! In this very
same chapter he encourages us to steadfastness, referring to both the
patience of the prophets, and the endurance of Job. Job especially,
is held up as typical of the sort of steadfastness which James has in mind.
Throughout all of his terrible suffering, Job remained steadfast in his trust
in God. Even when he
did not understand; ..... even when he asked hard questions for which there
seemed to be no answers; ..... even when his wife did the devil's work by
suggesting that he turn his back on the God who had allowed it all; .....
even when his friends falsely accused him of hidden sin; ..... Job continued
to turn to God. At the end of
it all Job found his way through, He humbled himself; despising himself for
his lack of understanding; repenting of all the attitudes implied in the hard
questions; and opening his eyes to see God revealed in a new and greater way
than he had ever known before. (Job 42:1-6) When Job
confessed his fault in challenging or questioning the sovereign will of God;
when he understood that trust in God did not depend on mere human answers to
any of his human questions; when he despised himself for his questions; .....
then, and only then, ..... God healed him! JOB AND THE
DEVIL It is all too
common for immature Christians to diagnose the cause of sickness as “Satanic
attack”, or “demonic oppression”, requiring the exercise of “spiritual
authority” to combat the problem. There is a very
real danger that such misdirected “warfare” against Satan, is actually warfare
against God! Indeed any
attempt to enter into verbal “warfare” against Satan can be sin which betrays
a lack of understanding! (Jude 1 8-10) If there is any
lesson at all about “Satanic influence” in the story of Job, it is that Satan
cannot move in any way against a child of God, ...... except by God's
permission. The ultimate
power of wounding and healing; of life and death; remains in God's hands. (Deuteronomy 32:39) Without God's
carefully limited permission, the Devil could never have broken through God's
protective “hedge”, (Job 1:10),
or moved against Job, at all. This has to be
true, not only for Job, but for all believers. We learn that
throughout it all, Job continued to turn to God as the one with whom he must
deal; ...... not (we note carefully again) with the devil! The devil's aim
was to destroy Job. However God had a higher purpose in mind. We must learn
to see that, even in the worst affliction, God remains unchangeably
compassionate and merciful towards those he loves. Even when permitting an
affliction as severe as that experienced by Job, God's purpose was NOT to
destroy, ..... but to perfect Job's already blameless and upright
faith! At first Job
clearly did not understand the what, or why, of what was happening to him.
But he did remain unshaken in his conviction that the real source of his
affliction was not really the devil's aggressive attack on his faith, .....
but God's permissive will. What God
permits, ..... even if that permission allows the devil to move against us,
almost to the point of death, ..... must be seen in the context of God's
continuing work of bringing us to the promised perfection of our character. PAUL'S THORN Paul's “thorn
in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
has been the subject of much speculation. What was it? I
do not need to know. What was the nature
of Satan's involvement in its origin? I do not need to know that either. Just
like Job, Paul ignored Satan to deal with God alone. If God permitted it,
then so far as Paul was concerned, it was God to whom he should pray. PAUL PRAYED
THREE TIMES for the removal of this affliction, (2 Corinthians 12:8) but God did not grant the
request. There was certainly no lack of faith on the part of Paul. But
there was something he did not know, until after that third prayer
the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you”.
(2 Corinthians 12:9). Then Paul knew!
He knew that God had a purpose in that “thorn”, which would keep him from the
potential disaster of excessive pride. He knew that
even with the personal limitations imposed on him by the affliction, God's
strength would always be enough for the work to which he was called. And he knew
that it would be obvious to all who saw him, that the strength for what he
did came from God, ..... not from his own resources; ..... and God would
be glorified, ..... not Paul. With that knowledge Paul was content! (2 Corinthians 12:10). I do not know
what Paul’s thorn was. Nor do I need to know. That is a meaningless side
track. However, I do
need to know what God's purpose was with Paul's thorn! .....and with my own. I have had to
learn that same lesson for myself. You see, I have a couple of my own thorns
in this aging body of mine. I am certain that they are God's will for me! I
understand that there is a reason why they are permitted. They limit my
activities in some areas. Those
limitations do not lead to desperate prayers for their healing! Instead they
serve to direct me to new fields where I am now sure God wants me to go. They
keep me from straying into other fields where I am not meant to be. Without
those helping “thorns” from God, perhaps I would not see clearly to recognise
the real path in which I must walk. I do not need
the thorns removed. I do not need those lost abilities to do what I am called
to do. Instead, I am set free to give all that remains to the real
task, where I must rely on God alone to transcend my human limitations. There are some
who tend to dismiss Paul's thorn as a rare aberration, not for all. That
mistake detracts from the real issue. Even if we do
not experience precisely the same thorn, the lesson learnt by Paul is
certainly for all of us. The experience of a uniquely tailored personal thorn
is for as many of us as need that same help from God, to learn for ourselves
that God's power is revealed only after we are ready to confess that we have
reached the limit of our own resources! Without Jesus,
we can do NOTHING! (John 15:5) NEBUCHADNEZZAR
& GREAT BABYLON The king had
seen many wonderful proofs of the reality and power of the God of Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. There really
was no excuse for his continuing self-centred pride in his achievements
which, after all, were not his own, but God's gifts to him. And for that self-centred
pride, God cut him down to size, in a most humiliating way. “He was driven from among men and his mind was
made like that of a beast.” (Daniel
5:21). Today we would probably call it a “serious mental
breakdown”. It happened a
whole year after his dream, through which he was warned by Daniel of his need
for repentance. (Daniel 4:25) It happened at
the very moment, while the words were still in the King's mouth, “Is this not
great Babylon, which I have built ....... for the glory of my
majesty”.(Daniel
4:30) He was brought
low to accept God's dominion over all the earth, and all its people ......
including Nebuchadnezzar himself! (Daniel 4:34-37) His reason
returned to him when he had humbled himself to acknowledge that God was
dealing with him for his pride. He became a worshipper of God. Then, and only
then, was he healed and restored to his kingdom. KING SAUL AND
THE EVIL SPIRIT King Saul
quenched the Spirit of God by his continued wilful disobedience, and God
sent an evil spirit to torment him intermittently. (1 Samuel 16:14) Saul’s case is
perhaps far worse than that of King Nebuchadnezzar. Saul had personally
experienced “the powers of the age to come”. (1 Samuel
10:1-13) And Saul's end
was far worse than we may believe of Nebuchadnezzar. The King of Babylon did
eventually humble himself and give praise to God. However,
although called to repentance many times by Samuel, Saul never did properly
turn back to God. Saul died in his sin. (1
Chronicles 10:13-14) For “would be
Elders”, often too eager to enter into a “ministry of deliverance”, and as
ignorant as they are eager, that they lack authority to engage in such
“ministry”, Saul's story contains several warnings. Firstly, real
Christians walking in obedience to Jesus, are not afflicted in this
way . It takes the same wilfully unrepentant disobedience as that seen in
Saul, to quench of the Spirit of God and make way for an evil Spirit, sent
from God. Secondly, Saul,
although he obtained temporary relief through David's “musical ministry”, was
never completely “delivered”, because he did not completely repent. Thirdly, those
who diagnose demonic influence, and then attempt an “exorcism” without
recognising God's hand in the situation, will find themself fighting against
God. It is fruitless
to attempt a “deliverance” from anything that has its origin in God. If the
situation is meant to remain part of any continued dealing by God, with a
wilfully unrepentant sinner, men must not attempt a “deliverance” before God
is ready! Fourthly, a
real Elder needs the certainty that God is satisfied with any professed
repentance, before any prayer for “deliverance” is offered. Anyone who
attempts a “deliverance” without first seeing a genuine dealing with the
wilful sin that is the primary cause of the problem, can never know the
certainty which leads to real faith and the prayer of faith. It should be
obvious that any attempt to command an evil spirit to go anywhere else than
the place that God has sent it, is doomed to failure. Until God is
willing to reverse His permission (or His command) for the evil spirit to be
there, it will stay there! Real Elders
will know these things! (For more teaching on this subject, ask for our two
papers with the messages: *
“Deliverance or Discipline?” *
“By the Finger of God”. WITCH DOCTORS
OR GOD? Much of what
goes under the name of “medicine”, or “alternative medicine”, is actually not
far removed from witchcraft, or white magic, or even black magic ,
practised under another name! It is significant (and a serious warning for
the wise) that Sorcerers find their eternal destiny in the same lake
of fire as murderers, fornicators, idolaters, homosexuals, and liars! The Greek word
for the practices of these “sorcerers” is the one from which our English word
“Pharmacy” is derived. It describes the sin of those who attempt to “play
God” by influencing events or producing healing, through the use of potions!
Some specific examples of this modern day witchcraft include: *
Those herbalists or naturopaths
who diagnose sickness and then determine the “correct” natural medicine by
the use of a pendulum. *
The “diagnosis” of sickness
through checking the pattern of spots in the eye. (or other similar methods).
In most cases these are a form of divination, (Deuteronomy 18:9-12) no more acceptable to God than
any other divination. (such as attempting to read the future by the position
of the stars, or the random distribution of tea leaves, or the entrails of
birds!) *
“Psychic healing” (which takes
many forms, but is perhaps most often encountered in
those healers from the Philippines, who perform “Psychic Surgery” with their
bare hands). Many forms of
sorcery are easily recognised. However, for the unwary, there are also many
far less recognisable forms of sorcery. Let those who lack wisdom seek God! (James 1:5-8) There are many
chronically ill or crippled people who wander desperately from one of these
“healers” to the next, spending all their failing energies (and all their
money) seeking some new wonder drug, or some better technique, or a man with
a little more “knowledge”, in a futile search for a healing which somehow
never seems to come. It is still true that “all that a man has he will give for his life”
(Job 2:4) Of course we
must tread cautiously here. Not all that the doctors, alternative healers,
and pharmacists offer can be classified as witchcraft. However, even
when there is no witchcraft involved, there are also other questionable areas
which are best avoided by Christians who will choose instead, to remain
faithful unto death! And, just in
passing, we must not fail to observe that many of yesterday's, “wonder drugs”
(potions!), or great new medical “discoveries”, or enthusiastically promoted
“alternatives”, have become today's disasters! Of course it is
not wrong to visit a doctor! However no search for healing
should be undertaken without first prayerfully seeking the will of God. In
the search, we must learn to remain sensitive to what God is trying to say to
us through the experience. We must be
careful to avoid the sin of King Asa, who refused to seek the Lord and turned
instead to seek help from the physicians. (2
Chronicles 16:12) And we must be
careful to reject any source of healing which God calls abomination ,
Those who walk that road, commit a sin which will separate them from
God and exclude them from the Kingdom of God. Real Elders
will be sensitive to all of these things. THE PENTECOSTAL
HEALING SCENE In Pentecostal
circles especially, there are some desperate seekers who wander continually
from one so called “charismatic” healer to the next, seeking some new
“ministry” with more “power” or “spiritual authority” than all the others who
have promised so much, but failed to deliver what was promised “in the
name of Jesus”. It is common to
see the same “regulars” in the “prayer lines” of every new, well-advertised,
so called “healing ministry” which visits town. Many regularly travel from
one city to another, and even from one continent to another, all to no avail. Too much of the
“exercise” of “Charismatic Gifts” amongst modern Pentecostals, falls readily
into the category of witchcraft. More falls into the realm of sinful
presumption on the part of men who lack authority to use the name of Jesus in
any way at all. Sadly also, many of these ministries are motivated by the
prospect of financial gain rather than by compassion for the suffering. Many so called
“gifts”, and those who “exercise” them, are not recognised by Jesus! (Matthew 7:21-23 & Matthew 24:24) Jesus calls them “wolves”. No real
Christian will submit willingly to the prayers of a wolf! TERMINAL
ILLNESS For all of
us, this will one day become the most important question of all. “For
everything there is a season and a time, ...... a time to be born and a time
to die”. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)
That time is in the hands of God alone. (Deuteronomy
32:39) For Children of
God these words from God lie at the very heart of Christian faith.
They are very special promises from God. They are promises which contain
great assurance and comfort. They are our eternal security. They assure us
that neither birth nor death; neither sickness nor health; can ever be
matters of mere blind chance. They speak to
us of a loving Father God who has unlimited power; not only to give life and
to take life; not only to prolong life or shorten it; but also to restore
life, beyond the grave. These are
promises from the same God who continues to speak of Himself, in the
present tense, as the God of long dead Abraham. (Which is seen by Jesus
as incontrovertible proof of the resurrection of Abraham and all who share
the faith of Abraham.) (Luke 20:34-38
& Romans 4:13-17) Terminal
illness brings with it the ultimate test of our faith in the love of God and
the Gospel of the “Age to Come”. It is one of
the great tragedies of the Church, that when God issues that final call, so
many fail the test. Far too often,
terminally ill Christians enter into that frantic, futile, and hopeless
struggle to stay alive, instead of turning to God in glad surrender and
expectancy. If death is but
a sleep and the doorway to a glorious resurrection, and if everlasting life
with Jesus is such a wonderful prospect, ...... why do so many fear it? Why
do so many fight so desperately to escape? At the point of
death those who belong to Christ are on the threshold of an experience which
ushers in eternity! We are about to
hear that great trumpet call which will awake the dead of all ages. The last
enemy is about to be finally conquered. (1
Corinthians 15:26) We are about to rise
imperishable and immortal. And in terms of what we will actually experience,
it lies only a moment and the twinkling of an eye beyond our last breath. (1 Corinthians 15:51-57) Real Elders
will know not to pray for healing in such cases. Rather they will direct
effort into helping the sick prepare their hearts for a peaceful surrender of
their conscious existence, into the safe hands of the Christ who has been
given the keys of Death and Hell. At the moment
of death we need that faith in our Father's everlasting love for us, which
will enable us to give our last breath to echo the words of Jesus, “Father, into
your hands I commit my Spirit”. (Luke 23:46) ALL THINGS FOR
GOOD “In everything God works for good with those
who love Him, who are called according to His purpose ..... If God is for us
who can be against us ? ...... (nothing) in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:28, Romans
8:31, Romans 8:39) These promises
are from the God who has also said, “I will never fail you nor forsake you”.
(Hebrews 13:5-6). For the
Christian, it is a continuing daily experience to recognise and give thanks
for the many easily visible ways in which this last promise is true. However it is
not the experience of what is visible or easily recognisable, (or
comfortable!), which makes this promise secure. The real security of the
promise lies in the fact that it is God who said it. The promise is
true, ..... not because of what we feel, or what we see or hear, or how we
choose to respond to what we experience, ..... but because it is spoken by a
God who cannot lie. (Titus 1:2) It is a great human
failure, when Christians evaluate what they see and feel from the perspective
of tiny human minds and limited human experience. WE MUST LEARN
THAT WE DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION REQUIRED TO ENABLE US TO SEE
OUR SITUATION FROM GOD'S eternal PERSPECTIVE. We do not
always have to understand what is happening to us, or why it is happening We do always
need to trust God, in every situation. He does work in all things
for our good. If that is the
lesson we are learning in affliction and suffering, no prayer for deliverance
can be said in true faith until the lesson is learnt to God's satisfaction. Would any true
child of God really want to be healed before the lesson is complete? NO TEST BEYOND
OUR STRENGTH It is not too
hard! God will not suffer us to be tempted beyond our strength to endure! IN AFFLICTION
WE MUST NEVER LET GO OF THAT. We must believe it. Our belief may not depend
on our feelings! We believe it regardless of what we feel, ...... simply
because God said it! JACOB AND THE
ANGEL When Jacob
wrestled with the Angel of God, he was sorely wounded. Yet even then
he clung to the angel as unto God. “I will not let you go, unless you bless me”
(Genesis 32:26) He continued to
limp. But he was blessed! ALL FOR GOOD All things do
work for good. That is God's promise to us. But we must never forget
that this is a conditional promise! The promised good is only
for those who love God. Our covenant
with God is to give ourselves to total
worship with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. In sickness and
trial and testing, our commitment to that covenant may be tested.
It may be tested, almost, but never beyond, the limits of our God
given strength. Even in the
worst times, and in our greatest personal weakness, we must cling to God,
until we find the good and receive the blessing. |