Sickness 671
does not bother to inquire why God has permitted this sickness, what
he should repent of, or how he should let God’s work be perfected in
him. All he can contemplate is his own weakness. He longs to be
strong again, so he searches everywhere for the means of healing.
That he may be cured speedily, he entreats God and inquires of man.
With the sick believer in such a state as this, it is impossible for God
to accomplish His purpose in him. That is why some are made well
only temporarily; after a while their old infirmity returns. How can
there be lasting healing if the root of sickness is not removed?
Sickness is one of the methods by which God chooses to speak to
us. He does not want us to grow anxious and seek immediately for
cure; instead He asks us to pray obediently. What a pity it is for that
person who eagerly expects to be healed while simultaneously is
unable to say to the Lord, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.” Our
sole aim is merely to be delivered from pain and weakness. We rush
to find the best remedy. Sickness prompts us to invent many cures.
Each symptom frightens us and sets our brain to work. God appears
to be far from us. We neglect our spiritual welfare. All thoughts
center upon our sufferings and the means of cure. Should the
medicine work, then we praise the grace of God. But should the cure
be delayed we lapse into misunderstanding our Father’s love. Yet let
us ask ourselves: if all we desire is to be delivered from pain, are we
being led by the Holy Spirit? Do we think we can glorify God with
the power of the flesh?
MedicineSelf-love naturally produces self-means. Instead of solving the
root of the sickness in God, Christians covet cure through man’s
drugs. We do not intend to waste a lot of time here in arguing
whether or not a believer can use medicine. Yet we do want to say
that since the Lord Jesus has provided for the healing of our body in