Sickness 665
but according to the Scriptures sickness after we have believed in the
Lord is usually related to sin. “Therefore confess your sins to one
another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James
5.16). Sins must first be confessed and then there will be healing. Sin
is the root of sickness.
Illness is frequently the chastisement of God employed to draw
our attention to some sin which we have overlooked so that we may
forsake it. God permits these sicknesses to fall upon us that He may
discipline us and purge us from our faults. God’s hand bears down on
us to direct our eyes to some unrighteousness or some debt, some
pride or love of this world, some self-reliance or greediness in work,
or some disobedience to God. Sickness is consequently God’s open
judgment of sin. Yet we are not to infer from this that the one who is
ill is necessarily more sinful than others (cf. Luke 13.2); quite the
opposite, they who are chastened by the Lord are usually the holiest.
Job is a prime example.
Each time a believer is chastened by God and becomes sick he is
open to great blessing, for the Father of spirits “disciplines us for our
good, that we may share his holiness” (Heb. 12.10), Sickness
prompts us to recollect and examine the past as to whether there be
any hidden sin, obstinacy or self-will. Then and there we can detect
if any barrier exists between us and God. As we search the depths of
our heart we come to realize how full of self and unlike the holiness
of God has been our past life. These exercises enable us to advance
in spiritual development and to obtain God’s healing.
Hence the first action one should take when ill is not to scurry
around in search of healing and the means of healing. He should
neither be anxious nor afraid. What he should do is place himself
completely in God’s light for examination, having an honest desire to
learn if he is being chastened because of some lack. He should judge
himself. Thus the Holy’, Spirit shall point out to him where he has
failed. And whatever he is shown, it must be immediately confessed