696 The Spiritual Man
your sickness might leave you. You crave sympathy, love and care.
Since you cannot secure these in any other way, you obtain them by
being sick. You must rid yourself of this selfish desire before God
will ever heal you. When people ask how you are, you must learn to
answer that “all is well.” Would this be telling a lie if the night
before had been ill-spent? Recall the story of the woman in Shunem.
She laid her dead child on the bed of the man of God and went to see
Elisha. When she was asked, “Is it well with you? Is it well with your
husband? Is it well with the child?”, she replied, “It is well.” (See 2
Kings 4.26) How could she say that, knowing the child had died
already and was laid on Elisha’s bed? Because she had faith. She
believed that God would raise up her child. So today you too must
believe.
Whatever may be the cause, be it intrinsic or extrinsic, the
sickness will be over once God has obtained His end. People like
Paul, Timothy and Trophimus are exceptions. Although their
sicknesses were long-sustaining, they acknowledged that this was
profitable to their work. They learned how to take care of themselves
for the glory of God. Paul persuaded Timothy to drink a little wine,
to be careful in eating and drinking. In spite of their frailties the work
of God was not neglected. The Lord gave them sufficient grace to
overcome their disabilities. Paul labored in weakness. By reading his
writings we can conclude easily that he accomplished as much as ten
persons could have. God used this weak man to exceed ten strong
persons. Though his body was frail, God nevertheless gave him
strength and life. These though are the exceptions in the Bible. Some
of God’s special vessels may receive the same treatment. But the
rank and file, especially beginners, should examine whether they
have sinned; and upon confessing their sins they shall see their
sickness readily healed.
Lastly, I wish you to see before the Lord that sometimes Satan
may launch a sudden attack or sometimes you unwittingly may
violate some natural law. Even so, you still can bring it to the Lord.