The Fear Of Sickness, Ageing And Death---Part 2
Scripture: Eccl. 12:1-8; 2 Cor. 12: 1-10
The way to face down ageing is exemplified by a 94-year-old woman in Arizona. Her friends describe her as bright, delightful, charming and always positive. When asked about her secret for living, she responded, "It is my enthusiasm for life. I think positive, I am positive." Pausing for a moment, she continued, "Even at 94, I have four boyfriends. I begin each day with Will Power, then I go for a walk with Arthur Ritis, I usually return home with Charlie Horse and spend the evening with Ben Gay."
We find this a little humorous. Yet the fact is that sickness, ageing and death has been with us since Adam's fall in the Garden of Eden. The Lord said, "'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die." Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit. When they did, God pronounced a curse on the man and the woman that resulted in sickness, pain, ageing and death. Since that time mankind has been on an endless search to escape the problems the curse presents. Christ will release the curse when He comes again to rule on the earth. (Rev. 22:3-5)
Today, the drive is on to find out who we were in former lives. People want to convince themselves that there was a life before they were born and that they will return again as someone else after they die. This seems to make the thought of dying a little more palatable. The problem is that all of it is based on speculation and not on scripture.
We all fear sickness and disease. Every year a new disease seems to be added to the list. Alzheimer's, heart disease, cancer, AIDS. Now, there is a flesh-eating virus. It seems to me that there is an increase of killer diseases in the world. God's Word warns us that this will happen.
A TV commercial focuses on a man who feeling apprehensive about a potential illness. He goes to the Doctor who says, "Mylanta." All his fears are relieved. This is what Americans want for everything -- a quick fix. Unfortunately it isn't always as simple as that.
The Scriptural Evidence. There is a volume of scriptural evidence regarding sickness, ageing and death and how we should respond to it.
SOLOMON--Eccl 12:1-8
"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"
(12:1)Solomon describes in poetic language the parts of the body that are ceasing to function as they did in youth. The keepers of the house (hands) tremble (v 3)
. The strong men stoop at the shoulders, (osteoporosis). The grinders (teeth) cease because they are few. Those looking through the windows grow dim (poor eyesight). The doors to the street are closed (isolation) (v 4) The sound of grinding fades (hard of hearing). Men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint (insomnia). Men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets (acrophobia and phobias of all kinds). (V 5) The almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along (physical weakness). Desire no longer is stirred (waning of sexual desire). The silver cord is severed (neural impulses fade, spinal cord central nervous system). (v 6) The golden bowl is broken (cerebrovascular accident). The pitcher is shattered at the spring (heart attack), or the wheel broken at the well (cardiovascular disease). Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the street (inevitable death and funerals). (V 5) And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. (V 7)Solomon is demonstrating how man thinks leaving God out of the equation. He concludes with these words: "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." Go to the Bible for your answers.
DAVID--1 Sam. 23:3
David was running for his life from King Saul who was jealous of him. David, speaking to his friend Jonathan, cried, "What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?" Jonathan replied. "You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn't do anything, great or small, without confiding in me. Why would he hide this from me? It's not so!" But David took an oath and said, "Yet as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death."
(1 Sam 20:1-3)David realized that death was something he could not push aside even at his young age. He learned to face it head on. He wrote, "Though I pass through the valley of shadow of death I will fear no evil for the Lord is with me."
Sickness can be a different story. What if something happens that debilitates me? What if I get sick and I am not able to function as I do now? Suppose sickness comes to my house and stays? With all the knowledge and medical technology, we still face diseases that slowly drain life away. There are no guarantees with any of us. We are all flawed. None of us are immune to catastrophic illness.
PAUL THE APOSTLEThere are many other afflictions and disorders that continue to destroy lives and ruin the plans of thousands of us every year. Paul expressed his own experience in vivid terms. (2 Cor. 4:8-11)
Paul was familiar with poor health, hardship and the threat of death. Last week, I made reference to Paul's 'thorn in the flesh'. Exactly what this thorn was is a mystery. Some say he had poor eyesight or some unattractive eye disease that was evident to all. Paul probably was not a man of robust health. Perhaps it is providential that we don't know what it was. Not knowing opens the door for everyone who has any kind of an infirmity or weakness, to be encouraged and instructed. It helps us to see how God gave Paul an answer that applies to all of us.
(2 Cor. 12:7)Paul asked the Lord to take the thorn away. There is nothing wrong with praying like that. However, as we pray we must remember that God has a higher principle in mind for each of us. Once Paul heard from the Lord, he never complained to God about the thorn again. He prayed, God spoke to Him about the thorn and Paul gratefully accepted God's answer. This requires a great deal of spiritual maturity to have this kind of attitude. However, it is possible to live like this.
There are times when God will not take sickness from us and there is good reason. There are times however, when God does heal. Whatever happens It is an occasion to . . .
1. Remember what God has done for us. Jesus accepted us as his beloved children. When we become ill, we can experience God's grace in a way that was never possible before. God's message is the same today. His grace is sufficient, it is enough. He doesn't need to do more for you. What He has done is more than enough.
Then Paul said, "My strength is made perfect in weakness." This raises Christian living to a higher level. "Therefore," continues Paul, "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. "
This is what Paul meant when he said, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
(1 Thess. 5:16,17)We don't need to fear Illness in ourselves or anyone else. We can face down the fear because the Lord is with us and will never leave us. God will give us a new strength, as each day requires to encourage someone else because of our infirmities that we never had before.
D. L. Moody said, "A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough today to last him for the next 6 months. Nor can he inhale sufficient air into his lungs with one breath to sustain life for a week to come. We are permitted to draw upon God's store of grace from day to day as we need it." (Heb 4: 15,16)
Paul went from crying out to God to take the infirmity away to thanking God for it. Paul learned that while in the sickness and hardships of life God was able to display His life through Paul's infirmity. He was able to do more in his sickness that when he was well. This is the way to the abundant Christian life.
An old seaman said, "In fierce storms we can do but one thing. There is only one way to survive; we must put the ship in a certain position (head her into the wind) and keep her there."
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 8:38-39)
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"If God sends us on stony paths, he provides strong shoes." Corrie Ten Boom
"One of the great discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do." Henry Ford
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." ( Phil 1:6)