November 18 − Possible Reasons for Sickness, Harm, and Death

        3 John, verse 2 – "I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."

        I firmly believe that God wants physical wholeness for all humans, especially those of the household of faith, as indicated in the verse above from 3 John. When we find ourselves asking "why is this bad thing happening to me", the scriptures detail many possible reasons therefore, and they give faith-laden remedies for overcoming/changing those circumstances.

        God demonstrated his perfect will through the life of Jesus. Jesus never turned away one single person who came to him, wanting to be healed. There is no such incident listed in the gospel writings.  Peter explains to us in Acts 10:38 - "....how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." This brings me to the first possible reason for sickness, harm, or death, which I believe is the most basic and prominent reason for all malaise.

> The devil, or demons, directly or indirectly bring(s) sickness and death.

        -John 10:10 − "The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that

                  you may have life, yes, life to the fullest."

        -Luke 13:10, 11 – "On a Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in one of the 
                  synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit 
                  for 18 years."

        -Job 2:7 – " So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh and afflicted Job

               with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head."

> For the ultimate glory of God in healing

        -John 9:1-3 – " As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples

                 asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born

                 blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this

                 happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

> Lack of acknowledgement of God

        -Psalm 91:2, 14 – "I will say of Yahweh, 'He is my fortress and my refuge, my

                 God in whom I trust.' 'Because he loves me', says Yahweh, 'I will rescue

                 him; I will protect him because he acknowledges my name.'"

> To be spared from evil

        -Isaiah 57:1-2 – "The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; 

              devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous 

              are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter 

              into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." 

> Not correctly recognizing the Master's supper

        -1 Corinthians 11:29-32 – "For those who eat and drink without discerning 

              the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why 

              many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen 

              asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we 

              would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged

              in this way by Yahweh, we are being disciplined so that we will not be

             finally condemned with the world."

> Sinful behavior

        -Romans 1:27 – "...men also abandoned natural relations with women and 

             were inflamed with lust for one another. Men commited indecent acts 

             with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their 

             perversion."

        -1 Corinthians 6:18-20 –"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man

               commits are outside his body, be he who sins sexually sins against his 

              own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, 

               who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. 

              You were bought at a price; therefore honor God with your body."

       -Jonah 1:1f – Jonah's disobedience brought about the ocean storm that 

              imperiled all on board

> Extreme eating; not taking care of your body; purposely ingesting poisoned 

         food or water

        -Proverbs 25:16 – "If you find honey, eat just enough – too much of it, and

              you will vomit."

        -Proverbs 25:27 – "It is not good to eat too much honey...."

        -Proverbs 23:20 – "Do not join those who drink too much wine, or gorge

              themselves on meat...."

> Persecution (God's permissive will)

        -John 16:2-4, 33 – "'....a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think 

              he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they 

              have not known the Father or me [Jesus]. I have told you this, so that 

              when the time comes, you will remember that I warned you....In this 

              world you will have trouble, but take heart; I have overcome the world.'"

        -Revelation 2:10 – "'Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you,

                 the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer

                 persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will

                 give you the crown of life.'"

        -2 Timothy 3:10 – "Everyone who wants to live a godly life will be 

                 persecuted."

       The above scriptures refer to reasons why sickness, harm, and death come. Many times in the gospels, sickness and death leave, mostly due to the faith of the sick one, or his/her parent. Here are some reasons why healing comes and why healing may not come. For me personally, and for most of what I observe, healing is hindered by my lack of faith.

> Faith in God (or lack thereof) and doubting

        -Mark 9:23 – "'If you can?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for him who

                believes.'"

        -Matthew 17:19-21 – "Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and 

             asked, "Why couldn't we drive out the demon?" Jesus replied, 

             "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have 

             faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move 

             from here to there', and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for 

             you."

        -Mark 11:23, 24 – "'Have faith in God', Jesus answered. I tell you the truth, 

             if anyone says to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself into the sea, and 

            does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen it 

            will be done for him. Therefore, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe 

            that you have received it, and it will be yours."

> Persistence alone (possibly instead of faith)

        -Luke 18:1, 6-8 – "Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they

                should always pray and not give up.... 'Listen to what the unjust judge

                says. Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out

                to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will

                see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man

                comes, will he find faith on the earth?'"

> Not being considerate of wives

        -1 Peter 3:7 – "Husbands, be considerate, as you live with your wives, and 

              treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of 

              the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."

        Some of these scriptures apply to all of us. A few might apply only in a small number of cases. Let us examine ourselves, and consider the possible reasons why we are not experiencing physical wholeness.