678 The Spiritual Man
excellent to lie in bed than to run to and fro. Consequently, they have
no desire to seek divine healing. How can we help them to know that
health is more profitable than weakness? We acknowledge that many
believers do forsake their wickedness and enter upon a deeper
experience during sickness; we admit that a number of invalids and
infirm persons possess unusual godliness and spiritual experiences;
but we must additionally confess that many Christians are rather
unclear on several points.
The sick may be holy, but such holiness is a little unnatural. Who
knows but what, once he was recuperated and again had the freedom
of choice, he would return to the world and to himself? In sickness
he is holy; in health he be comes worldly. The Lord has to keep him
in prolonged illness in order to keep him holy. His holiness hinges on
his sickness! Let us understand, however, that life with the Lord need
not at all be restricted to illness. Never, never entertain the thought
that unless one is under the yoke of sickness he has no strength to
glorify God in his daily duties. On the contrary, he should be able to
manifest the life of God in an ordinary daily walk. To be able to
endure suffering is good, but is it not even better if one can obey God
when he is full of strength?
We should recognize that healing—divine healing—is something
which belongs to God. In striving to be cured by human medicine we
naturally are separated from Him; but in aspiring to be cured by God
we will be drawn closer to Him. He who is healed by God glorifies
Him more than he who is always sick. Sickness can glorify God, for
it presents Him with an opportunity to manifest His healing power
(John 9.3) ; yet how can He be glorified if one remains protractedly
ill? When we are healed by God we witness His power as well as His
glory.
The Lord Jesus never portrayed sickness as a blessing which His
followers ought to endure to their death. He never suggested it was
an expression of the Father’s love. He calls His disciples to take up