THE Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. Salvation means saving, healing. To heal a physical wound or disease is to save from something worse. To heal the disease sin is to save the soul from spiritual death.
THE Gospel of Jesus Christ is a complete Gospel. It saves to the uttermost; therefore it means power to heal, to make whole everything that is wrong, disabled, enfeebled, poor, wretched, out of harmony with right generally, everywhere and forever, be the thing spiritual or physical, material or otherwise. That is the Gospel to-day. On God's part it is absolutely unlimited in its restorative and conservative powers. It is true that it is limited in this world, but only by man himself; for with man rests the power to limit it.
HUNDREDS, thousands, millions of poor folk, in and out of the church, are longing for healing of physical ills and infirmities. It is sad to think that physical sickness should exist among professed believers in an almighty and compassionate Saviour. But it does exist and will exist there until the law of spiritual healing and nature's laws of right living are understood and complied with. Many seem to think that there is something very mysterious about the question of divine healing. There is, and there is not. There is connected with it the "mystery of godliness," which ought not, however, to remain long a mystery, as mysteries are ordinarily considered, to the true seeker after a Saviour. Then, this is of itself a matter of practical, common-sense living, and includes every detail of the life in its application.
And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. And He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose, and ministered unto them." Matt. 8: 14, 15.
AGAIN, while there are many who can testify to mighty works of divine healing for themselves and for others, there are probably more whose faith is weak because they do not see the sick restored to health even after many and earnest petitions to this end; or doubts exist because some who have been marvelously healed, or claim to have been healed, fall again under the attacks of disease. Now, doubting one, be assured of this one thing, that if the sick is not restored to health, or the healed one becomes sick again, there is a very good reason for it, which it is our duty and privilege to know.
It is time for the Lord to work mightily for and with His people. One evidence of this is the rapid rise of so-called faith healers and divine healers the world over. Satan always imitates the work of God, and his signs and wonders are proportioned to the importance of God's message for the time. But there can be, of course, only one divine process of healing, and, rightly understood, there can be in it no place for fanaticism. It is too bad that the subject has been so misunderstood, by even those who are honest at heart, as to cause doubts and ridicule to associate with it. But that is the work of the enemy, who is glad to see confusion and sickness and suffering spread abroad. The Lord has said that His people "are destroyed for lack of knowledge." But it need not be so; let it not be so in your experience.
It is not stating the matter at all too broadly to say that the Lord can not intrust great blessings of health to ninety-nine one-hundredths of those who seek Him for health, in their present attitude of mind. Speaking with reverence, the Lord is not less wise than is man. A worthy man is approached by his son with the request for a large sum of money. The first question the father asks is, Son, what2do you propose to do with it? A discreet answer may be given, but the father, knowing the temptations that come to the inexperienced, and recognizing also certain defects of character or judgment in his son, replies that he can not at once confer the desired object, since to do so would mean disaster to the young man's career. He recommends first a training in this business, or that industry, until experience has prepared him to handle wisely large interests.
HEALTH is a priceless treasure. It is great riches. But the greatest danger to the man rich in worldly goods is the tendency to rest in the earthly security and protection and comforts they are able to purchase for him. He forgets his dependence upon God for life and its blessings. So is the danger to the man intrusted with rich blessings of health. Unless he has learned well, and learns daily, he will glory in his physical powers, and apply these powers to the attainment of selfish ends rather than to the service of God. And so the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, knowing the real primary need of the petitioner, often says, Son, receive first a training; give up this or that injurious thing or practise, that you may rightly use the great blessing which you desire.
THIS leads to the law in question in particular. All manner of disease and sickness is the result of sin. These evils are not arbitrarily placed upon the race, but are the natural consequences of a misuse of that which was originally given for man's good. Sin has passed upon the whole of mankind, and in varying degree, due to differing hereditary conditions and other circumstances, all feel the effects of disease. Now the working of the power of God unto salvation will redeem men entirely from sin and all of its effects. But it is true that while sins are forgiven now, the seeds of death in the flesh will not be destroyed until the Lord comes. This body of flesh will be corruptible until it is fashioned like unto His glorious body. Nevertheless, the principle of entire salvation holds good, and the Lord's will concerning His people in all ages is that they shall be delivered from the diseases that injure mind and body, and which afflict those who know not the Lord.
THE law of disease and healing thus becomes a very practical matter. A familiar text tells us that as a man 'thinketh in his heart, so is he.' That is the principle operating in the question of disease and health. Sin is primarily of the mind, and we might appropriately say that as a man sins so will his sicknesses be. But it is not enough to say that a man's diseases are proportioned to the degree of his violation of nature's laws, meaning by these the physical laws of his being. Nature's laws in man are twofold,—spiritual, of the mind, and physical, of the body, and the spiritual law is the governing one. Then, as the mind controls the body, it follows that the intent of sin in the mind will find expression in the overt act when the opportunity offers, and in time the attendant diseases and sicknesses will make their appearance.
BUT there is still more in the working of this law. The relation between the purposes of the mind and the effects upon the body is a marvelous one, but it is one well recognized, and is also well expressed in the words, 'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.' To avoid the consequences of an evil thought, it is not enough for an individual to say that he will refrain from the physical or outward demonstration that would naturally follow. That particular thing may not find an outlet, but the effect upon the mind is the same as if it did, for the mind is receiving a training in the wrong direction, and its evil purposes will find expression at other times and in other wrong ways. It is exceedingly dangerous altogether for the man to harbor even one bad thought.
IN the application of this law it might at first appear that all who are afflicted with sickness, professed believers or others, were great sinners. This statement would sound harsh; and it is pleasant to know, at least under these circumstances, that there are sins of ignorance, and that the Lord will correct these if the sincere believer will let Him do it. But this presents a very solemn subject for thought to every individual, to the professed follower of Christ in particular. Great as the demand may appear to be, it is nevertheless true that the Lord demands that His children shall be all they profess to be. He asks them to be perfect, to be pure, to be holy, even as is the Father in heaven. And, praise His name, it is their blessed privilege, as well as duty, to be all that, not by their own power or strength or wisdom, but by virtue of His grace, which is sufficient for all. It is the glorious privilege of the sons and daughters of God to live so close to Him, to be led to carefully and continually by His hand, that they will not make mistakes even. This means much prayer and meditation, constant walking with God. Is it too much? Will there be among the translated ones at Christ's coming one soul who will be less than that?
CAN you wonder now why it is that some one has fallen under the power of disease who was once wonderfully healed? There is no mystery about it, except the wonder, as the angels must look at it, why and how one can loosen his grip on the arm of the Lord. This grasp is a spiritual one, and when the mind wavers, when it lapses into carelessness, sickness of the body comes as the inevitable and natural outworking of law, and not as an arbitrary decree. We sometimes remark that the Lord permits the disease to come. True, simply because He does not interfere with the process; and He lets the evil come, as He did upon Israel of old, as a chastisement in order that it may have the salutary effect of arousing the wanderer to a sense of his condition, and bringing him back to his source of help and to his Redeemer.
DO YOU yet wonder why you are not healed in answer to prayer? Do not allow the thought to enter your mind that the Lord does not hear your honest petition. He does hear, but He is simply, in His wisdom, giving you experience, removing some defect of character, pruning here a little and there a little, until He can intrust you with what you desire, and what He longs to bestow upon you. Wait patiently for Him. If the time seems long and the way difficult, remember that this is often the course of faith's development. Wait in hope. 'Let patience have her perfect work,' which means your perfecting.
MANY can not or will not wait, and because the Lord can not teach them as He would be glad to teach them, they must endure the sickness and the suffering all their days. In such event the affliction acts as a continual corrector, to keep them humble and make them sensible of their dependence upon the Lord. Under all circumstances He is a faithful, merciful, all-wise, and loving Father. We are the ones who are so ignorant and blind and obstinate and stubborn that He can bestow upon us only so few blessings, lest we rise in our pride, and work our own destruction.
THEREFORE, look up, despondent one. There is power for all things with Israel's God. He has power for healing for you, of mind and of body. If the reformatory process is slow, remember it is not the Lord's fault, but rather that you are under a divine training, and be glad. Do not be discouraged if you can not at once see what is the hindering cause. The Lord will reveal it in His time, not necessarily in yours. First of all, above all, get right with God, keep right with Him every moment, and believe that He knows all about you, far better than you know yourself, and be willing to be led and to be taught by Him in all matters of holy and sensible living.
HIS promises of old are still true: '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.' 'And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.' Ex. 15:26; 23:25. Bring 'into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.' The law of perfect healing means, first of all, nothing short of this. There is more to it. Are you ready to comply with the preliminary conditions?
