Your Frequent Illnesses
I spent some time in a waiting room very much like the picture above this week. I am certain that you have some experience doing this same thing. My time this week was spent in the waiting area of the Women's Breast Care Specialist of Atlanta, Georgia as I waited for my wife Julie to be examined. I knew in advance that the wait would be a while, so I was prepared with a new book and my ipod music device. I never read any of my book.
We arrived very early, and Julie was called away very soon after our arrival which left me alone in the lobby. As I sat there, patient after patient began to come in and fill the room. Many women also came with their husbands, but most of them were all alone. I would watch each patient come to the front desk to sign in with the receptionist. Most would smile, but I could tell that it was more of a nervous smile as they received the forms to fill out.
As I witnessed the concern on each patient's face, my heart began to be exposed to the worry that each was going through. I began to pray for each lady that stepped up to the counter. I would say, "Lord, bless this lady. Please heal any disease or illness that she may have." I started thinking about the love and concern that I had for my wife, and I knew that each woman had someone with the same thoughts about them. At this time, the guy sitting next to me must of thought that I was reading a very sad book because to hide my tears, I opened my book and looked down to its pages. I noticed his glances at me as I kept wiping my eyes. I'm sure this guy was thinking, "Why would this man be crying while he reads a book about basketball coach Rick Pitino?"
My thoughts were, "Lord, I wish I had the power of healing. I would just touch each woman as they walked in and them send them home in Your name." But the Lord does not work this way. I would love to believe the "healings" that I see on TV, but I'm very concerned that these guys will be held accountable one day for their demonstrations. They need to be walking up and down the hospital corridors instead of "performing" on large stages.
So as I sat in the waiting area seeing so many patients come in, I asked the same questions that you may ask at times: If God is in control, why does He allow illness, disease, and even death? He especially should prevent believers from disease, shouldn't He? Some people actually believe that a Christian with faith can't get cancer or any disease. They will quote from the Book of Isaiah 53:5, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (NIV) That is a wonderful verse, but it doesn't say that we are healed from all illnesses and diseases. (We are healed from the eternal separation from God by believing upon Jesus as our Savior.)
I do believe in the healing power of prayer. I have personally witnessed this blessing. But I have also personally witnessed what seem to be unanswered prayers for healing. I have many great Christian friends who have serious illnesses, and I have prayed for their healing, but they have continued to be plagued by illness. Why would God choose to heal some, but not others? Why did Jesus, with all of the healing power that He had, not go around and heal every person that He came near? It has always been a question in my mind about the pool of Bethesda found in John chapter 5. The Bible says, "Here a great number of disabled people used to lie - the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?" (John 5:3-6 NIV) Now, if you wanted to start your own cult by taking one scripture from the Bible and twisting the meaning, you could start the "you must be sick 38 years before healing" cult. But I wonder why Jesus just didn't heal everyone around the pool? Wouldn't that really catch the attention of all people of Jerusalem? Why just "One"? The only answer for this is found in Isaiah 55:8, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord." We will just never know the answer to many questions like this on this side of heaven.
Wouldn't it be nice if when we became Christians, we never had to experience illness or disease? Why wouldn't a loving God make it be this way? Wouldn't everyone want to become a believer then? Surely much more of the world would believe in Jesus then. Or would the world really believe? Perhaps people would want its benefits, but not the submission.
You may be thinking, "OK Robby, you've asked enough questions. I've thought about these same questions. But where is the encouragement here? I've had to deal with illness and disease personally. How does this fit into the promise found in Jeremiah 29? ("For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.") Sometimes my own personal faith is challenged by my questions." I say I understand.
As I study the Bible each week, different scriptures that I read and hear seem to stand out more than before. This week, the scripture found in Paul's letter to Timothy, stood out stronger than before. The Books of 1 Timothy, and 2 Timothy are letters from the Apostle Paul to Timothy, who worked as an emissary of Paul to nurture new Christian churches. Timothy was like a Pastor to new beginning churches. Let me first say that the Lord used Paul to heal a crippled man, "who had been lame from birth and never walked," in Lystra. (Acts 14:8-10) So here we have a wonderful man of God, Paul, who wrote most of our New Testament, writing a letter to a young new preacher Timothy. Paul writes, "Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses." (1 Timothy 5:23) Did you catch that? Apparently, Timothy had frequent illnesses. Paul loved Timothy very much. Why wouldn't a man who healed a cripple man just call Timothy over, lay hands on him, and heal him from all of his illnesses? Do you question the faith of Paul or Timothy? I sure don't. Our Lord used Timothy in many wonderful ways, even though he was often ill. Perhaps his illness brought him before people that he wouldn't have normally met. Can God work this way? ABOSOLUTELY!
Turn to the Book of Galatians. The Book starts, "Paul, an apostle-sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father..." (Galatians 1:1) Who sent Paul to Galatia? He just said the answer - sent "but by Jesus Christ." How did our Lord send him? Paul tells us in Galatians 4:13, "As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you." What? It was an illness that brought Paul to preach to the people of Galatia? Whose illness was it? Was Timothy sick again? Let's keep reading... Paul says in the next verse, "Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself."(vs.14) I can understand why God would allow one of His most beloved followers to become ill now. Paul went through many hardships, but I know where Paul prospered and where his future filled with hope ended. Perhaps you can understand Paul better now as he writes, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need." (Romans 12:12-13)
I am very concerned with the illness of the women I saw this week. I am very concerned about any illness that you or your family may be going through. Paul tells us, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) How can this illness (affliction) be for any good? The Psalmist in Psalms 119:71 says, "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees." Pray that the Lord uses this time to draw you nearer to Him. I pray for your healing!
Robby
Archived Hits
