Sickness 673
Scripture and the experience of Christians, however, we are forced to
confess that after the fall of man our feelings seem to control our
lives, which prompts us naturally to incline towards the
intermediaries than towards God Himself. Hence we observe that
during the period of illness Christians direct more attention to
medicine than to the power of God. Although their lips may proclaim
a trust in God’s power, their hearts are almost totally wrapped up in
medicine—as though without its help God’s power cannot be
released. No wonder they exhibit signs of unrest, anxiety and fear,
hotly pursuing the best means of cure everywhere. These ones lack
the peace which springs from trusting in God. With their hearts thus
absorbed in the use and application of medicine, they turn to the
world and sacrifice the presence of God. God has purposed through
sickness to bring people nearer to Him, yet precisely the opposite
seems to be the effect. Perhaps some indeed are able to use medicine
without damaging their spiritual life, but such ones are few. Most of
God’s people tend to rely on intermediaries more than on Him and
consequently their spiritual life is harmed through the use of drugs.
There is a vast distinction between cure through medicine and
healing by God. The power of the first is natural while that of the
second is supernatural. The way of obtaining the cure is likewise
distinguishable: in using medicine the trust rests in human
cleverness; in depending on God the confidence is in the work and
life of the Lord Jesus. Even should’ the physician be a believer who
entreats God for wisdom and for blessing in the drug used, he is
nonetheless powerless to impart spiritual blessing to the one healed,
for unconsciously the latter already has pinned his hope of cure on
medicine rather than on the power of the Lord. Though he be healed
physically, his spiritual life shall suffer loss. If the person verily
trusts in God he will commit himself to His love and power. He will
inquire and investigate the cause of his sickness—wherein has he
displeased the Lord. So that when he is healed he shall be blessed
spiritually as well as bodily.