In this blog we look at what disease is according to the Bible. We also find an important key to recovery. In part 1 of 'Health and disease', we explored what health is and what the Bible says about it. You can read that here.
In the previous blog we already read that obedience to the (natural) laws can prevent illness. We can also read this in Exodus 15:26: “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”
When Jesus was here on earth, He healed many sick people. What He said to the paralytic in Bethesda was: “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” John 5:14. And in Mark 2:5 He said to the paralytic who was brought to Jesus through the roof by his friends: “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” It's a warning. Violation of the laws of God is the cause of the disease. Without sin there would be no sickness, pain and sorrow in this world.
In the book The Ministry of Healing we read: “Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health. In case of sickness, the cause should be ascertained. Unhealthful conditions should be changed, wrong habits corrected. Then nature is to be assisted in her effort to expel impurities and to re-establish right conditions in the system.” MH 127.1.
Cause and effect
Now that we know that illness is a result of breaking God's laws, it makes sense to look for the cause when you want to recover from an illness. This can be found in both the 10 commandments and in the laws of nature, or the laws of health that can be found in the Bible.
“ Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day" "For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh" Deuteronomy 32:46, Proverbs 4:22.
In prayer you can ask God to help you understand your situation. You can also ask for help from fellow believers.
James 5:14-16: "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: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Confess your sins and correct your habits and unhealthy conditions. By removing the cause, there can no longer be any effect.
Are all diseases consequences of sin?
Veel ziekten zijn terug te leiden naar een verkeerde levensstijl en overtredingen van Gods wetten, maar niet allemaal. In Johannes 9 lezen we over de blindgeboren man. De discipelen vragen aan Jezus: “Rabbi, wie heeft er gezondigd, hij of zijn ouders? … Jezus antwoordde: Hij heeft niet gezondigd en zijn ouders ook niet, maar dit is gebeurd, opdat de werken van God in hem geopenbaard zouden worden.”
Soms heeft God met een zieke een bepaald doel voor ogen. “En wij weten dat voor hen die God liefhebben, alle dingen meewerken ten goede.” Romeinen 8:28.
Many illnesses can be traced back to wrong lifestyles and violations of God's laws, but not all of them. In John 9 we read about the man born blind. The disciples ask Jesus, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” John 9:2-3.
Sometimes God has a specific purpose in mind with a sick person. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28.
The eight Laws of Health
It is wise for everyone to make the choice to obey God's laws. Either to stay healthy or to remove the cause of an illness and help the body recover. These health laws, which I will elaborate on in subsequent blogs, can be summarized under eight components of a healthy lifestyle. The acronym NEW START is an easy reminder. It stands for:
Nutrition
Exercise
Water
Sunlight
Temperance
Air
Rest
Trust in God
The last point, trust in God, is essential. The Bible is full of promises from God. “There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:45. God can be trusted. When God promises that He will bless us and give us health, if we keep His laws, it is not to force us into a straitjacket of rules. It is out of pure love for us. He first loved us, He wants the best for us, so let us love Him (1 John 4).
“For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. ... I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days."
Deuteronomy 30:11, 19, 20.
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