p. 90 | Is it God's Will? by J. F. Bauler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 4, 1873

Is it God's Will?

By J. F. Bauler

In the beginning it was the Lord's will that man should not sin. In consequence of his having transgressed, he brought death upon himself; hence, sickness, pain, and suffering, are more or less man's lot.

How often individuals charge God wrongfully, by saying, It is the will of the Lord. It never was, nor ever will be, his will that man should suffer. This we see from Eze. 18:32: “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth,” &c. Then, dear reader, let us cease to charge God with such dealing.

When sickness comes to any of us, how quickly we seek some remedy, something that will restore us to health again. Why do this? If it is the will of the Lord that we should be sick, why seek to undo his will?

In the case of Job, the Lord permitted the enemy to afflict his servant; but far be it from me to say that it was the will of the Lord that all this suffering should come upon Job. When Jesus died the agonizing death of the cross, would any one say this was the will of God? No! We learn from the Spirit of prophecy that the Father turned away his face from the ignominious death. So let us remember that we have a loving Father, one who has given us light through which we may thwart the enemy's plans.

The health reform is one evidence of its not being the will of the Lord that man should be afflicted. Let us, therefore, dismiss the idea, and cease saying, It is the will of the Lord, when man has brought all this sorrow upon himself. I would ask, How can it be his will that we should be sick when sickness unfits us for his service? Even prayer for the sick would be out of place if sickness is in accordance with his holy and just will.

J. F. BAULER.

Rochester, N. Y.