Relationship Between Healing & Suffering (6)

By Hazel Holland

Having briefly considered those Scriptures most often used to support biblical healing in the atonement, let us now try to arrive at a more biblical understanding of the relationship between physical healing and suffering as it relates to the atonement.

We can all vouch for the fact that God has not designed that sickness and death be totally removed from our life experience here and now. But one day it will be. The following promise is a guarantee of the Hope we carry in our hearts.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4 (NIV)

Those who teach that it is always God’s will to physically heal us NOW usually advocate that it is always God's will for us to be prosperous, too. However, I believe this is because those who teach this are not only unwilling to wait for the day when the old order of things will pass away, but they are also unwilling to face the full extent of the cross that God has called us to during our life here on earth. They cannot accept the fact that God has called us to many sufferings for a short while.

As we read the following Scriptures it does NOT appear that it is God’s will for us to live a life that is free from suffering.

“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:16-18 (NIV)

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)

“That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2Corinthians 12:10 (NIV)

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1Peter 4:13 (NIV)

“So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” 1Peter 4:19

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1Peter 5:10 (NIV)

“Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” James 5:10 (NIV)

After reading these Scriptures I came away with the realization that if God never allowed Christians to be sick or experience pain, how would we ever have compassion for unbelievers who are ill and in pain? In the last Scripture we read James even quotes from Job’s experience of suffering as an example for us who live under the New Covenant to persevere in our walk with the Lord. Then Paul reminds us in the following Scripture that just as God comforts us so we are to comfort others with His comfort.

“who comforts us in all our troubles (sufferings), so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” 2 Corinthians 1:4-5 (NIV)

I believe that spiritual growth in sanctification comes through overcoming adversities as we look forward with hope to the restoration of all things in Christ. This seems to be Paul’s thought pattern too in the following verse.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

When we read about how Old Testament prophets and saints often suffered for the cause of Christ it would be inconceivable for them to imagine that the anguish they endured was their own fault because God didn’t want them to suffer or die.

“Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.” Hebrews 11: 35-38 (NIV)

I think Paul had a well-balanced perspective when he said,

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

In spite of the fact that these Scriptures we have read clearly reveal that suffering is a part of our existence in this life, there are believers who refuse to acknowledge they are suffering and claim that they have been healed, while it is obvious the symptoms of sickness linger on. I have asked myself many times what good does it do to claim that we have been healed of the flu (for instance) when the flu symptoms clearly remain.

When we refuse to acknowledge the reality of the troubles that are in the world in which we live, (which holds true for both believer and non-believer) we are forced to enter a world of unreality where our beliefs no longer work. In our failed attempts to make God fit our belief system we eventually end up confused and disillusioned. Job tells us in no uncertain terms that troubles in this life hold true for both believers and non-believers. God does not defer to believers by exempting them from suffering and pain.

"Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. Job 14:1 (NIV)

Without a doubt the Bible tells us that the time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine but will follow after teachings that tickle their ears.

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3 (NIV)

Could it be that those of us who do not want to hear that God may choose to have us suffer at times in this life run after the faith movement’s teachings, because we would rather hear that God always chooses to heal us now? But in order to do this we must deny suffering in whatever form it comes upon us. We must also believe that it’s God’s will that we prosper and be in health. And finally we must believe that through the power of our spoken words we can create a positive healing experience. Of course we would always add that our words are spoken with the authority that we have received from Jesus Christ, and so we speak the healing word in “Jesus name”.

But I believe many of us who have become derailed by the faith movements teachings fail to realize Paul’s teachings that tells us that our suffering in this life is inextricably linked to our mortal bodies and sin.

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. “ 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 (NIV)

(To continue this study go to "Is the Prosperity Gospel Part of the Atonement?" at: http://sound-the-trumpet.blogspot.com/2008/09/is-prosperity-gospel-part-of-atonement.html)