GOD AT WORK IN DISEASE by David Paulson; W. S. Sadler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Feb 19, 1901

GOD AT WORK IN DISEASE

By David Paulson; W. S. Sadler

DAVID PAULSON AND W. S. SADLER

It is universally admitted that God is working in man in health; but the idea very generally prevails that the devil is master of the situation in disease. Hence it is the most natural thing in the world to ask God to drive out of the sick man the demon of disease; while, as a matter of fact, health is God at work under the conditions of obedience, and disease is the same God who is at work under conditions of disobedience. In either case, God is doing the very best He can for the individual. God simply allows a man to reap a harvest from the seed he has sown, for His own word is pledged that what a man sows that must he also reap. The part the devil acts in producing disease is to tempt the man to sow the thorns and thistles of ill health. The dew and the sunshine cause the thorns and the thistles to grow, just as truly as they cause the roses, lilies, and pinks to flourish. Either may grow in the same soil; the difference is only in the matter of sowing.

God's power is at work in disease, just the same as in health; but by transgression we are compelling Him to serve with our sins. Isa. 43:24. What a blessed privilege the missionary, especially the medical missionary, has of teaching the sufferer that in his affliction he is dealing with God, and not with the devil, and that God is doing the kindest thing possible in view of His perfect knowledge of the circumstances, and the sufferer's need. His warning voice has spoken to him in whispers unheard, and now it speaks to him louder, in the voice of disease. Job 33:14, 19, 24. If a man will but repent and co-operate, God will, if His name can be honored thereby, bless that which is being done for the restoration of the afflicted one, and “his flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth.”

DISEASE AND DEMONOLOGY

The prevailing view of disease is really a remnant of the old idea of demonology,—that something that ought to be driven out had taken possession of the sick man,—when the real fact is that the man has taken possession of something that is not good for him; and it is this that is the cause of his trouble. Modern scientific research has clearly established the fact that disease is simply nature at work, the same as in health, bravely fighting out its battle for the individual's existence; and the cause of this battle is the abuse that has been heaped upon the human system by the transgression of the laws that govern its existence.

But the notion is still abroad that somehow the doctor's shadow or his drugs must contain in themselves some inherent power that can drive a disease out of a man. When drugs are introduced into the system, nature has to begin a second battle of reacting against them. And in rising to this emergency, she often succeeds in unloading other poisons that have been accumulating, but all the while the man is the battle ground on which nature is fighting out this twofold battle. How much more simple and reasonable it would be to seek for and remove the cause of the disease, and then co-operate with God by the intelligent use of simple and natural remedies, than to compel Him to make this extraordinary second effort.

ONENESS OF PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALING

Many would shudder at the thought of going to a human being to request forgiveness of sin and the healing of the soul from the wounds that sin has made; yet they go to the doctor, with the full confidence that he in some way is able to heal them of the result of their physical transgression, little appreciating that physical sin and spiritual sin are transgressions of the same law. We have but one law, but one Lawgiver; and there is but one Saviour from the transgression of the law, whether the transgression be physical or spiritual. To be healed of either, requires the life-giving ministry of Him who came “that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10.

Healing and Conversion.—“The power of the Lord was present to heal them.” Luke 5:17. The power of the Lord is a healing power, and the gospel is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” “According to your faith be it unto you.” Divine healing is a transformation, by the aid of divine power, from the sphere of disobedience to the realm of obedience; from the realm of sin and death to that of righteousness and life. Divine healing is a process whereby man is able to get out of a wrong state into a right state, after having secured the disposition to make this change,—a disposition to cease to do evil and learn to do well. The healing power of God, whether manifested mentally, morally, or physically, is the same. It requires the same power to heal the body that it takes to forgive sin.

To the Christian, divine healing is but the continuation of the miracle that was wrought when the soul returned to God, and first tasted the sweets of heaven's healing graces. “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Where healing is most needed, there the healing power of God is most manifested. The inflammation surrounding an injured part signifies the marshaling of a larger array of blood corpuscles for the purpose of effecting the repair of the injury. Sometimes the irritation is too intense, or the injury is so great that this reparative attempt of nature is unsuccessful, for the same reason that very often firemen fail to extinguish the flames of a burning building.

Where sickness is, God's healing power much more abounds. He who is sick in mind or diseased in body does not need to go around the world to find healing, nor is it necessary to go to some man or to any particular institution to obtain divine healing. Just as a soul may be converted anywhere in this broad world, so that soul may be healed, as far as securing divine healing is concerned, anywhere, regardless of time, place, or surroundings, the only condition being that the one who desires healing shall turn to God—come into harmony with the physical or spiritual law that has been violated. And so the miracle of conversion and the miracle of health are identical. They are but different manifestations of the same healing power.

Speaking to the backsliders, the Lord says: “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” Jer. 3:22. The backslidden soul is in need of healing. He has drifted away from the source of life and health and strength, and thus his healing is made dependent—consequent—upon his return. Every man who was doing wrong yesterday, and who receives strength to do right to-day, has to that extent been healed of God. The evidence of the backslider's healing is in his return to the old paths, to the sheepfold of Christ, which he forsook, and as a consequence was torn by the enemy when in the land of strangers. Those who are knowingly transgressing God's laws, physically or morally, thus separating themselves

further and further from the Lawgiver, can not expect to be recipients of a special manifestation of divine healing, while they continue to disobey and trample upon the laws of the divine Healer.