LIGHT OF MERCY FOR HEALING (1)

“For indeed he was SICK almost unto death; but God had MERCY on him…” – Philippians 2:27a

The story of Epaphroditus, one of Apostle Paul’s faithful disciples, demonstrates the LIGHT of MERCY for HEALING: “For indeed he was SICK almost unto death; but God had MERCY on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow” (Phil.2:27). Paul wrote a flawless testimonial on Epaphroditus: “my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick” (vv.25-26). Yet, “he was sick almost unto death, but God had mercy on him” (v.27a). When saints fall sick, God’s Mercy is what delivers from illness and sorrow!

God did not create humanity with the stain of sickness or disease. Essentially, sickness came as judgement for sin and a consequence of humanity’s fall. Although sickness was a by-product of sin, this does not infer that every situation of sickness is because someone committed a specific sin or act of disobedience. There are records of individuals in the Bible who were sick, but not due to a specific sin they committed.

Once upon a time, Hezekiah was critically sick: “In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live’” (2Kgs.20:1). Isaiah brought to the king, a warning to prepare for death, but the king turned to God in prayers for strength and grace. Unprepared or unwilling to die, he wept bitterly, saying “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight” (2Kgs.20:3). Eventually, the prophet prescribed “a lump of figs” as “medicine” to actualize the healing (2Kgs.20:7).

Daniel was sick, not because of a sin committed: “And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it” (Dan.8:27). The fainting sickness seemed to be due to exhaustion from spiritual rigours and the distressing effects of visions of desolations about the land, city, temple, and people. He only needed rest to recover.

Acts 9:37 report how a certain disciple, Tabitha (also called Dorcas) “became sick and died.” Yet, after her corpse had been washed and prepared for burial, death bowed to Peter’s prayer. All things – even sickness – always work together for the good of those who love God (Rom.8:28). With Mercy at work, Tabitha’s recovery led a great harvest of souls (Acts 9:42). Sicknesses, diseases, and infirmities are real, and the Bible does not gloss over them. The good news however, is that the Merciful God heals, delivers from death, and restores to life!