In the furnace of affliction
We often ask ourselves why God allows sickness in the world. The answer that is quite simple, for by one man sin entered into the world. Because of this sin, we have sickness and death, not just physical death but spiritual death also. You see God gave mankind free will to choose whether or not to accept God or reject him. Because of that free will Adam, and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden and brought upon the earth sickness and death. Some sickness is very plain to identify, and often can be healed with the proper medicines. Other sicknesses, like a sickness of the soul, cannot be easily seen or easily healed. The body and the soul are intimately connected and God loves and cares for both. In order to maintain good health we must maintain a healthy lifestyle. The same can be said for healthy soul which requires spiritual disciplines of worship, prayer, and obedience to God’s Word. As good hygiene will help maintain a healthy body, a clean mind will help maintain healthy soul. What is said about computers, “garbage in garbage out,” can be said of our body and soul also. You cannot have a poor diet and maintain a healthy body, and you cannot put unclean things in your mind and heart, and maintain a healthy soul.
When Moses led the people out of the slavery of Egypt, God instructed him on the construction of the tabernacle, a place where the presence of the Lord could be among his people. Over the tabernacle would hover a pillar of cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night, ensuring the Israelites that God was with them. Of course this mercy-seat, (where the pillar would hover), was in the Holy of Holies, were only the high priest could enter once a year to plead for remission of sin for his people. This was separated from the rest of the tabernacle by a 7 inch thick veil preventing anyone from approaching the presence of God. Upon Jesus death on the cross, that veil was torn in half, giving us access to our heavenly father. Because of the death of Jesus on the cross the Temple changed from the tabernacle to any and all who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. We have become the living Temples of our Lord. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
I Corinthians 6:15-20.
Unfortunately as long as there is sin in the world there will be sickness and death. But by the free choice God is giving you, you get to decide if it is one death or two. We all will suffer a physical death, either through sickness, or old age. But it is by our choice, by receiving Jesus Christ as our personal savior, whether we suffer the second death, the death of the spirit. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23. As a point of clarification, this death of the spirit is separation from God for eternity, suffering everlasting damnation. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:23
As parents we want our children to live a healthy life, and thrive under our care. Our Heavenly Father feels the same way about us, He wants us to thrive in His care. To keep us healthy in both body and soul, He gave us His Living Word, the Bible. In it you will find many recipes for medicines of the mind and body. It gives instructions on how to live our best life. Read it with your children daily.
We as authors, write books on every Self Help subject imaginable. We write about what to eat, how to exercise, how to meditate, and the list goes on and on, to live a healthy lifestyle. While what we write may work for one person, it may not work for another. The Bible, (the author is God), works for everyone!
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
III John 1:2
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Romans 5:3-4
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
James 5:14-15
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
II Corinthians 4:17