Last night at church a man was telling a group of us about a friend of his whose daughter has epilepsy. In a recent conversation this mother asked her friend, a Believer, "If God is so good, why is my daughter sick?" The question, while not surprising, broke my heart. So many suffering people find themselves asking this very same question and fail to realize that they are pointing the blame in the wrong direction. Her daughter is sick, my daugthter was sick, because of SIN! Sin has polluted the world and corrupted our hearts. Sin detroyed God's perfect creation and filled the world with death, disease, and every other known evil.
The follow up question to the, "If God is good..." is usually, "Why doesn't God do something about it or why doesn't he heal my child?" Hear me sweet friends, HE DID! He sent is Son, Jesus the Christ, who conquered death and the evil one! The victory celebration has been delayed so more people can be added to his kingdom. In the meantime, we get to play a role in his kingdom plan. "But, my child is still sick." Yes, that's true. Until Christ comes to claim his church and once and for all do away with sin, we have to live the reprecussions of The Fall. BUT, a perfect, healthy, undefiled body is waiting for any who call on His name and repent. (I personally believe this Grace is given to children, but that is more theology than I can discuss here).
Does this information make it easier when this mother watches her daughter fall to the floor, unconscientious. Maybe. Maybe not. Does it make it easier when I sit at my child's graveside? Sometimes. Knowing God has already healed my daughter doesn't make me miss her less. Knowing God has already set into motion a plan that will heal this world doesn't always make me feel better. BUT, most of the time it does! The Holy Spirit never lets me forget, for too long, what Jesus did for me.
A person who is suffering will never find healing and peace by pointing the finger at God. The culprit is sin. Let's point the finger there. Let's HATE sin. Thankfully God and his Amazing Grace has already conquered evil! How glorious the victory celebration will be when Jesus gathers together his saints. Lilly and I will be among them. I am honored to have been called to the purpose for which God has called me--to play a role in the advancement of his kingdom. It is full of pain and suffering, but it is also full of joy and grace.
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