1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."
Though loved by the Lord, Lazarus lay languishing – being sick and without strength. He was not the only one in that household loved by our Savior. The whole family shared in the loving affections of Jesus. We find in but a few verses later:
5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. John 11:5 (NIV)
It seems almost oxymoronic to our finite minds that one the Lord loved so greatly could be found ebbing away in sickness as even unto death. All that would have been needed was one word from the Master and Lazarus would have been found leaping rather than languishing. Indeed, Jesus has power over all diseases and could have prevented the illness itself if it were not for a greater purpose. Just as our Lord’s death could have certainly been prevented if it had not been for a greater purpose as well. We somehow equate Jesus’ favor and love to perfect health, prosperity and a life of no problems. Therefore, if a life should fall ill, impoverished or problematic, we automatically assume (like Job’s “friends” wrongly assumed) that there is something askew with the walk – sin in the camp, so to speak. While there are consequences to sin – every sin carrying with it a death sentence – and we should be ever examining our own lives in a fervent pursuit to rid ourselves of sin, turning in repentance – the direct consequence of sin in a life is certainly not always the case when troubles arise nor should it be the first assumption by an onlooker. That simply is not what Scripture teaches. A reading of Job will immediately change that wrong perspective.
“But sickness, we must always remember, is no sign that God is displeased with us: nay, more, it is generally sent for the good of our souls. It tends to draw our affections away from this world, and to direct them to things above. It sends us to our Bibles, and teaches us to pray better. It helps to prove our faith and patience, and shows us the real value of our hope in Christ. It reminds us betimes that we are not to live always, and tunes and trains our hearts for our great change. Then let us be patient and cheerful when we are laid aside by illness. Let us believe that the Lord Jesus loves us when we are sick no less than when we are well.” J. C. Ryle
The fiery furnace of affliction is often the tool God uses to burn off the needless dross in our lives – the unnecessary and the unredeeming things – making us more and more conformed to the image of His Son. He is ever about conforming us to the image of Jesus – always being for us and not against us. Paul tells us in Romans:
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:28-29 (NIV)
“From my inmost soul I delight in the knowledge that God does or permits all things, and causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him. He and He only knew what my dear wife was to me. He knew how the light of my eyes and the joy of my heart were in her. On the last day of her life – we had no idea that it would be the last – our hearts were mutually delighted by the never-old story of each other’s love...and almost her last act was, with one arm round my neck, to place her hand on my head and, as I believe, for her lips had lost their cunning, to implore a blessing on me. But He saw that it was good to take her – good indeed for her, and in His love He took her painlessly – and not less good for me who now must toil and suffer alone, yet not alone, for God is nearer to me than ever.” Hudson Taylor
“God, the eternal God, is our support at all times, especially when we are sinking into deep trouble. There are seasons when we sink quite low...Dear child of God, even when you are at your lowest, underneath are the everlasting arms. Charles H. Spurgeon
We serve a loving God who allows nothing in our lives that He cannot use for our good. As believers, we have access to the very throne of God and, as Scripture tells us, the prayer of a righteous man or woman avails much:
The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NIV)
The great man of prayer George Mueller writes to Hudson Taylor the following that is an extreme encouragement for us all:
“On Him then reckon, to Him look, on Him depend: and be assured that if you walk with Him, look to Him and expect help from Him, He will never fail you. An older brother, who has known the Lord for forty-four years, who writes this, says for your encouragement that He has never failed him. In the greatest difficulties, in the heaviest trials, in the deepest poverty and necessities, He has never failed me; but because I was enabled by His grace to trust in Him, He has always appeared for my help. I delight in speaking well of His Name.” George Mueller
This does not mean the answer to all of our petitions will be of our bias unless, of course, our bias is to stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. Rather, all answers will be for our best. Strangely, when we receive a “no” on such occasions which seem to us as good or profitable or right it is always for a far greater “yes” though perhaps it is not perceived as such from our limited perspectives. This is where our faith is tried and tested and comes to bat – do we really believe God loves us when He asks us to lay our Isaac’s down? Do we really believe God has our best interest at heart? That everything (and I mean everything) that He allows in our lives is for our good and His glory – never one surpassing the other? We then therefore, like Abraham, go with what we know to be true and we stand firm in that.
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. Heb 11:1-2 (NIV)