Via Veritas Vita

If you have ever been ill or had a severe ailment, prayer is the first place you run. Not only do we pray, but we gather everyone around us to pray for us. We call as many people as we can, especially the righteous who know many who can add us to their prayer list. But God is sovereign, and God's will, no matter what, will be done.

Faith healers believe God heals everyone; it's your fault if you are not healed. You didn't have enough faith. Baloney, God is sovereign. No one wants to die, but if we examine sickness and suffering, we should consider some things. Take Lazarus, for example. In John 11, a messenger notified Jesus that Lazarus was ill, but Jesus let him die. John wrote, "Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."

Deadman Walking

Lazarus died. He was in the tomb for four days. He was at peace awaiting the resurrection, except that resurrection stood before his tomb. Only when Jesus resurrected Lazarus, it would not be in an eternal body. He would have to continue to live his life in Bethany. If I were Lazarus, I would have probably said, "Lord, you couldn't just let be in peace." When I die, I want nothing more to do with this world. I want to be with Jesus. Maybe that's why Jesus brought Lazarus back because Jesus was there with his sisters and the apostles. I guess I would have wanted to go back and see Jesus too. But having to die all over again, no thanks.

You know God does that sometimes. He places us in positions that will temper us. We are soft pieces of steel, and God heats us up in fire and puts us on an anvil to harden us. Harden us for what? God tempers us so we may be his soldiers here on earth.

Do You Love Me?

He did it to Peter. In Luke 21, Luke wrote, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." I don't know about you, but I would have said Lord you told him no, right? God did not say no; he said yes, and Peter was tested and denied Christ only to repent. Jesus reminded Peter of this failure when he asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him—three times the denial, three times the reminder. Then Jesus placed Peter in charge of the new church—the church of the New Covenant. Jesus knew Peter's heart, just as he knows ours.

Finish the Race

When we, or those around us, are ill, praying is right. We call on God to help us in times of need. However, we must remember God's will is sovereign. He loves us; God has already set our life before us, and as we keep the faith, Jesus rewards us at the end. Praise Him who suffered and died for the wicked. Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ.