The reality of Sickness and Disease
The sequence of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration in the Biblical narrative describes the nature of God and reality. In creation, God creates man in His own image and likeness and with the intention that man will thrive in peace love, and kindness with the rest of creation. Here, there is no evidence of illnesses. Adam and Eve, however, eat the forbidden fruit which began the life of sin among mankind. Part of the punishment was having to work, sicknesses, and death. Thereafter, God sought to restore human beings to their former glory and sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins (Larsen, 2015). Through Jesus’ death, human beings are born again and forgiven for all their sins. They are also healed from their diseases if they pray to God. Christians also have hope for restoration when Jesus Christ comes back to judge the living and the dead. During the restoration, God will remove illnesses, sin, and evil from the earth.
These Bible teachings are a source of hope to the sick and everyone else as they understand that God has the ability to heal the sick. Patients only need to pray to God to ease their suffering and heal them from their diseases and wait for Him to do the healing. Christians also understand that illnesses are also a part of God’s will on earth as much as healing is. Illnesses are a result of the original sin of Adam and Eve and the constant sinning of human beings. Fortunately, God will forgive and heal them as He forgave Adam and Eve after they sinned. For those whose loved ones have died from diseases, they are comforted by the knowledge that the afterlife will be free from any diseases and suffering. Their loved ones will, therefore, wake up to a peaceful afterlife.
References
Larsen, J. (2015). CREATION, FALL, REDEMPTION, AND RESTORATION (OR FIVE DAYS AT SUNDANCE). The Other Journal.