In a popular Christmas song, the singer croons his wish: That there’d be no more sickness and no more death.
A nice aspiration but not necessarily plausible in the near future (until we arrive in heaven, that is). Sickness and death is a normal part of our existence while on this spinning globe. I sure don’t want to sound morbid, but false expectations like these cause people to put their hopes in lucky charms, amulets, and four leaf clovers. The reality is that hospitals are full and we still need places like St. Jude’s and Shriners.
But can’t God keep us from sickness? Isn’t that what’s He’s supposed to do?
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick…" Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." (John 11: 3,21).
Sickness and God’s Love
Lazarus was sick, but it wasn’t because Jesus didn’t love him. The whole discussion in the book of Job was to discuss this dilemma. The old thought was that if you were well, God loved you. If you were sick, you must have displeased Him or you have some unresolved sin somewhere along the line. That thought most probably came from the old mythological beliefs that if you pleased the gods, you’d be blessed and if you did not, you were cursed.
In the book of Job, that belief system is debunked, and here in John we find that just because you are sick, it doesn’t mean that God does not love you!
However, let’s take another look at this. Jesus told his disciples that Lazarus’ condition would be used to glorify God. And in short order, Lazarus died and would be four days in the tomb before Jesus attends to him.
Of course, he is raised from the dead and people are astonished and amazed! But that wasn’t the case in the beginning. “If you would have been here,” the sisters lamented, “he wouldn’t have died!”
We know the ending. It’s a happy one, but nobody likes the dying part. Like the sisters, we’d rather have God around to PREVENT problems, not solve them after the fact. We want God to assure us of some “good luck” so the way is smooth, not that we go through the storms and after the flood, He comes to fix the pipes. No! We’d much rather Him be there so none of the problems would have to occur in the first place!
Nobody likes the dying part.
But John 12:24 reminds us: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
Dying doesn’t necessarily mean that God isn’t aware nor does it mean that He doesn’t love us. There will be times that much life can come from death. We all know that out of oppression God brought redemption. But seeing that going in is far tougher than seeing it from the victory side.
Remember, faith is living in advance what we will only understand in reverse.
There will often be many things we see from the victory side. I am glad for that. We will hear testimonies, stories of faith, and triumphs. Our faith will be strengthened. But the real litmus test is when I can see life experiences, not just from the victory side, but from the “entry side,” when we have to still lay down our life, die to pride, or forego a “right” in order to preserve a relationship.
And this Christmas, remember that God’s love for you is as steady when you are wrestling with your health, as it is when you are on top of the world. Ride it out. Keep your hand in His and wait for the harvest. It will be a fruitful one, I guarantee you!
