Your ShelfYour Projects

Divine Healing

9%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 22, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 31.

Read the full edition

Divine Healing

By D. H. KRESS, M. D.

(Concluded)
D. H. KRESS, M. D.
God’s promises are all conditional. As we meet the conditions and make the needed reforms, it is our privilege to exercise faith in his promises. We must not expect instantaneous healing in answer to prayer in every case, or even in most cases. It may be instantaneous, or it may be gradual. God works in both ways. We must not overlook God’s usual way of healing, and expect always the unusual, in answer to prayer. If we do, it will mean disappointment and will bring discouragement, and may ultimately destroy all faith; for God generally raises men to health by the gradual method, even in answer to prayer.
Jesus did something out of the ordinary when he converted water into wine instantaneously. It was no more difficult for him to do this than it was to make wine in the ordinary way. He did not do this, however, for the purpose of introducing a new and better plan of obtaining wine. We still work the soil, plant the vines, and obtain wine as people did before this miracle was performed.
Jesus wrought a miracle in feeding the multitude. Many followed him after that because of this miracle. To them it seemed an easier way of gaining their daily bread. But it is still God’s plan that man should earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. It is the better way.
The Saviour wrought a miracle when he raised the son of the widow to life. It does not follow that all who have died since should be raised to life in a similar way before the resurrection, or the time appointed.
Jesus wrought miracles in healing many instantaneously. Many followed him because of these miracles. There are those who are still following him because of these miracles. Instantaneous healing was not designed to take the place of natural healing. It is better in most cases to be healed by cooperation, and by the correction of wrong physical habits.
At the beginning God made a full-grown man; since then the growth from birth to manhood has been gradual. There is wisdom in this plan. It would not be well for a child to grow up to maturity in one day. If he should, the father and mother would have to vacate the premises. He has to be taught lessons of self-control before he can be trusted with the strength of manhood. The sick need disciplining. The people perish for lack of knowledge. Habits of life must be improved before we can be intrusted with the full measure of health God would be pleased to have us possess. The prisoner behind the bars is anxious to be set at liberty. It would not be wise to give him his freedom simply because he desires it. It would not be best for him or for the community without thorough reformation on his part. If all should be healed instantly simply because they desired it, and should then eat and drink as before, others would be encouraged to continue in wrong habits, for God would be placing his approval upon sin.
When God heals, he does not leave men and women in ignorance as to the causes of their disease. Faults are to be confessed, and the sins of the sick man forgiven. He is to be raised to walk in newness of life. He leads men “forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.”
“Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.”