Several times in both the New and Old Testament God is called our healer. One of the most profound and direct scriptures is 1 Peter 2:24 where it says, “By his stripes you were healed.” If that is true why are so many apparently God fearing dedicated Christians suffering from illness especially in light of Romans 2:11 where it says “God does not show favoritism.” If he ever healed anyone all must be entitled to be healed.

The primary reason that some people don’t receive their healing is they don’t believe God would do it or they don’t qualify. They have no faith in the grace of God. The Bible calls these thoughts “imaginations that exalt themselves against the knowledge of (or faith in) God” II Cor. 10:5. Another name is for these “destructive reasonings” is Religion. Religion is a counterfeit spiritual system based on works and on the thoughts and philosophies of men instead of faith in the Word of God.

Religion appears to be the road to God with its rituals, sacraments and penitence but it has no power. Power comes from faith not works. The only ‘work’ we are called to do in the New Testament is to believe God. Many people attend church and enjoy Christian fellowship, but they never really cross the void of doubt and unbelief to enter into true faith.

People don’t get healed because they base their healing on works instead of grace, which disqualifies them every time! According to the way most people think they are just too unworthy to be healed. They have heard too many sermons outlining how God is testing us or improving us somehow through our own suffering.

Let me ask you, do you think our suffering brings pleasure to God? Was Jesus’ suffering less than complete? Must we finish the job? Is it not prideful to think that we are good enough to suffer for our own imperfections when Jesus, the only

perfect sacrifice, has already suffered for us?  And if we could suffer in any way for our imperfections why did Jesus need to come at all?

Since the fall of Adam man has operated in the dark concerning spiritual things and has erroneously reverted to his own understanding when it comes to the things of God.  That is why God sent the Holy Spirit to guide us and teach us all things concerning what Jesus did for us on the cross Jn. 16:13.  Jesus paid the price for our redemption, spirit, soul and body from sickness, poverty and eternal damnation.

After all God did for the Children of Israel, they did not enter into the Promised Land because they could not believe.  They died in the desert because of their doubt and unbelief, just like many Christians today die in their disease.  God has provided a place of healing but many people don’t enter in because they think that somehow they deserve to suffer.  They base God’s ability to heal them on their works, sins or imperfections instead of Jesus’ sacrifice.

The Bible says, “Study to show thyself approved.”  Approved for what?  Healing and all the other promises of God.  Study the Word until what God says about your situation and what you believe is the same thing.

Remember, He said, “I am the Lord that healeth thee” Ex. 15:26.  Anybody that says anything to the contrary is extrapolating the truth in order to justify his or her doubt and unbelief.  The Bible never says that He is the “God that makes you sick.”  What is does say is that, “If you can believe, all things are possible” Mk. 9:23.

Believe God and be healed!

By Rocky J. Malloy