“Physical and Spiritual Illness - by Jarrod Jacobs”

Saturday, October 07, 2023

“Physical And Spiritual Illness”

Jarrod Jacobs

Many in this congregation, and in this area of Kentucky, have fallen victim to the “flu bug” in recent weeks. Many are fighting this illness right now and feel miserable. In addition to this, we have brethren in the congregation who are fighting cancer, and other severe physical problems. These folks are striving daily to overcome these diseases as best they can. We know there are times each year when illnesses flare up, but this time it has been especially bad, it seems. We need to keep these folks in our prayers, as well as show kindness and generosity to them in other ways (I Thess. 5:17; Matt. 7:12, 22:39, 25:36, 43; Jas. 2:15-18, 5:15-16).

I find it more than a coincidence that the Bible makes a comparison to physical and spiritual illness on several occasions. When speaking about the sins of the nation of Israel, God said, “Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment” (Isa. 1:5-6). In speaking about the sins of a nation, God compared their sins to someone stricken with a grave illness. Similar descriptions are given by David when he said his “wounds stink and are corrupt,” referring to his sins in his life (Ps. 38:3-5). Hosea (Hosea 5:12-13) and many others said similar things when comparing sin in the lives of people to illness or disease.

Jesus used this imagery when describing the sin of the people. On one occasion when Jesus was criticized for associating with the publicans and harlots, He responded, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Mk. 2:17). Notice how the Lord equates physical illness with spiritual problems. Whether one is physically sick, or spiritually sick, Jesus said these folks needed a “physician”! In this case, the spiritually sick needed Jesus. He was exactly where He needed to be! Jesus also called some men “blind” due to their rebellion against the truth (Matt. 23:16-17; Jn. 9:40- 41). In Matthew 9, when Jesus healed the paralyzed man who had been lowered into the room by his friends, Christ equated healing the physically ill with the spiritually ill so that folks understood He has the power to forgive man’s sin (Matt. 9:6).

Illness, disease, and finally death has not come from God, but is a consequence of sin (Gen. 3:16-19). Thus, we deal with these problems daily. Whether we are the ones suffering, or we are the care-givers to those who have the problem, we have to deal with illnesses almost daily.

While we cannot always control the physical illnesses, the bacteria, and viruses that enter our bodies, we can control the lusts, and sinful behavior that can enter our minds! We control this by being “sober” and “vigilant” (I Pet. 5:8). We control this by thinking on the right things (Phil. 4:8) and then acting on that truth (Phil. 4:9)! We can control our thoughts, and thus control our speech (Jas. 3)! We do this by resisting the devil and not yielding to temptation (Jas. 4:7)! This is a necessary thing, for sin has far worse consequences than any physical illness (Jn. 8:24; Rev. 21:8; Matt. 25:41)!

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