Sickness 683
Be it therefore apprehended that the spiritual blessing we receive
in sickness is far inferior to what we receive in restoration. If we rest
on God for healing, then naturally after being cured we will continue
to walk in holiness so as to preserve our health. By making us well
the Lord possesses our body. Unspeakable is the joy found in a new
relationship and a new experience with Him, not because of sickness
cured but because of a new touch with life. In such a time believers
glorify the Lord far more than in the time of ill-health.
God’s children should accordingly rise up and strive after healing.
First hear what God has to say through our sickness, then do as has
been revealed with singleness of heart. Moreover, commit your body
afresh to the Lord. If there are near you elders of the church who can
anoint you with oil (James 5.14-15), then call them and follow the
injunction of the Holy Scriptures. Or else quietly exercise faith to lay
hold of the promise of God (Ex. 15.26). God will heal us.
[Translator’s note: It was thought profitable for the reader that
the following message on sickness and healing, spoken by Mr.
Nee in 1948, should be included at this point as an addendum to
what has just been set forth in this section on the subject by the
author. Although some duplication does appear, it was felt best to
include the message in its entirety.]There are a few matters concerning sickness we would like to
consider together before God:
- The Relation between Sickness and Sin
Before the fall of mankind no infirmity of any kind existed;
sickness arose only after man had sinned. One can say generally that
both sickness and death resulted from sin; for by one man’s trespass
sin and death came into the world (Rom. 5.12). Sickness spread to all
men just as did death. Though not all sin in the same way as Adam
did, yet because of his transgression, all die. Where there is sin there
is also death. In between these two is that which we usually call