That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. KJV — Psalm 67:2
“My body, my choice” is probably something you’ve ever heard before. As much as we may like to think that we have the freedom to do as we please with our bodies because they are ours, that’s really not true.
Paul makes it clear:
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? KJV — 1Corinthians 3:16
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. KJV — 1Corinthians 6:19,20
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, KJV — 2Corinthians 6:16,17
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. KJV — 2Corinthians 7:1
In doing a great work for the soul and utterly neglecting care for the body, we do ourselves a great disservice. Again, Paul says,
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. KJV — 1Thessalonians 5:23
In the work of the gospel, God has shown that healing of the body and soul are to go hand in hand. After delivering the children of Israel from Egypt, he was keen to declare, “I am the LORD that healeth thee.” Exo 15:26. Of Christ it is written, “Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Matt 8:17. He not only “went about doing good”, but also “healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38. And so, “the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.” Luke 6:19.
In a previous study, we saw that man was perfect before the fall. It is sin that brought about sickness. Therefore, if the work of the gospel is to deal with sin, it must of necessity deal with sickness. This here is a beautiful truth, I could shout it from the housetops. I will state the fact again for good measure. If the work of the gospel is to deal with sin, it must of necessity deal with sickness. Consider this prophecy from Isaiah:
And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. KJV — Isaiah 33:24
Why, according to the verse, will the people in heaven not speak of sickness? Because they will have been forgiven their iniquity. The true way to cure sickness, then, is to get rid of iniquity. We now see why God connects the gospel with health. In truth, the gospel is health, and health is the gospel. Health, in the true sense of the word, is wholeness of body and soul. Thus when Christ was asked, “Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” Matt 9:11 he could truly answer, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” Matt 9:12.
Though we may suffer physical sickness in these frail bodies, may we always remember that God’s grace is sufficient. There is no doubt that there is no sin that God cannot forgive. There is, therefore, no sickness that God cannot heal. If we have the assurance that our sins are forgiven, then we sleep in peace if our physical ailments are to get the better of us, for Christ has said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” The question is to you, dear reader, “Believest thou this?” John 11:25,26
Someone may ask, “But how can these things be? We know that everone will die one day…“ True, but for all who die in Christ, it will only be temporary. For those, Christ says as to the daughter of Jairus, “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.” Luke 8:52 and as to Lazarus, “This sickness is not unto death… Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” John 11:4,11. For all who die in Christ, they shall all rise when Christ comes with new bodies, perfect, free from all disease, for their iniquity will be forgiven. As it is written,
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. KJV — 1Corinthians 15:51-53
Truly,
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. KJV — Revelation 14:13
The Blessing of Trials