March 2010
                
It seems like just about everyone has been sick.  Whether it be colds, the flu, bronchitis, or a stomach virus it seems like every other phone call was telling me about someone else who was sick.  Some of you have really struggled this winter with your health and are hoping spring not only brings warmer weather but better health.

 
                The reality is sickness is a result of the fall. When Adam and Eve committed the first sin, the perfect world God had created was no longer perfect.  Weeds and thorns became an aggravation, sweat became the result of work, and illness became a reality.  Physical illness and physical infirmity are a consequence of the effects of the fall of man into sin.  Part of the curse on Adam and his descendents because of his sin was, “You will return to the ground.”

 
                Just like everything else in life, illness and sickness has a purpose.  God uses what at times seems so bad to us to bring about good in our lives.  Sometimes an illness can cause us to realize more fully our need for God, and our dependence on Him.  Sometimes God brings sickness into our lives to slow us down, and to force us to get the rest we need but haven’t gotten.  Sometimes an illness gives the church an opportunity for service and ministry, allowing the body of Christ to reach out to and minister to others in the body.  Sometimes an illness can force us to pray, and cause us to recommit ourselves to seeking the Lord’s face in prayer.

 
                But one of the most positive benefits of an illness or a sickness is to give us the proper perspective.  It makes us realize that life is short, that our days are numbered, and that illness will one day take us from this life to the next.  An illness, even a rather mild one, can be a sobering experience.  When life is all good we can tend to get a bit full of ourselves, but when we don’t feel good, we tend to get our focus back where it needs to be.

 
                Another thing an illness or sickness can do is give us a longing for heaven.  When we go to heaven we will leave all of the frustrations, hardships, difficulties, and illnesses behind.  Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will be no longer any death; there will be no longer any mourning, or crying, or pain.”  I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty good to me.  No mourning?  No crying?  No pain?  I will take that, and the Bible says we will get that if we belong to Jesus.  The more mourning, and crying, and pain we have, the better heaven looks.

 
                In Romans 8:23 Paul said, “We ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”  Notice what Paul said there:  we wait eagerly for the redemption of our body.  And I can guarantee you one thing, the more illness you have – the more mourning, crying, and pain you have – the more eagerly you will wait for it.

 
                But the even more wonderful thing is that going to heaven is not just getting away from something, it is going to something.  It is not just escaping the sorrow, the sadness, the pain, and the difficulty of life on earth, but it is going to the place where we will enjoy the fullness of the presence of our Savior.  As much as I love life and enjoy the blessings God has given me in this life, I look forward to the even richer blessings of heaven.

 
                So, when you get that next illness or you become sick, see what it is God is trying to teach you or show you through it.  Allow it to give you an even more eager expectation to be in heaven with Jesus.

                                                     In the Love of Christ,