“Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
Berkeley Botanical Gardens
The first chapter of John outlines Christ was with God when he created the earth. Jesus had say in how all things were made and, according to John, is the source of life and light.
Several thousand years later, Jesus came to earth in the form of a baby, lived for 33 years and performed so many signs and wonders they couldn’t all be documented in one book (John 21:25). Before he left their presence a second time Jesus commissioned his disciples (the 12 plus 70 others) to continue what he started but asked them to wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit to anoint them (Luke 24:49).
The disciples were obedient, waited in an upper room, and in Acts 2 it is recorded a strong wind showed up (inside the house); fire appeared and touched each person (no one was hurt). After this “happening” the disciples spoke in languages they didn’t previously know, preached like trained orators, cast out demons, pronounced forgiveness of sins and healed the sick.
In ancient times – when Jesus, the disciples and their descendants walked this earth, God was the source of healing and satan was the source of sickness.
Fast forward to present day and you hear things like: “God has given me cancer to teach me patience.” “God has afflicted our child with cerebral palsy to teach us perseverance.” “God took our daughter to heaven – he needed her there.” “Our son’s addiction is God’s allowance.” “The supernatural is for the darkside – satan’s territory – Christians can’t do that kind of stuff; if they have the ability it is because demons are helping them.”
When in the last 2000 years did our perspective of God get so twisted? If this is the god you serve, I don’t want to know him… he scares me. Why would I want to know, follow or serve a god who randomly afflicts his people with sickness, disease or addiction to teach them a lesson? Or give a child only to take him / her away suddenly? Doesn’t this god trust us to train him / her up in the way he / she should go like the Bible says?
When did God become ascribed to illness, disease, affliction, and addiction? More importantly, when did divine, supernatural healing become accredited to satan? That was once Gods domain!
The Bible says God is the best Father there is (Luke 11). If earthly fathers did to their children what a lot of Christians ascribe God doing to his followers it would be earmarked as child abuse. “I burned his arm to curtail his carelessness around hot objects.” “I gave her acne to cure her vanity.” “I afflicted AIDS to curb his lust issue.”
God is the same yesterday, today and forever – it is our perspective, our views, our ideology which has warped and changed. Not God. He still heals, he still woos, he still calls out over and over for the lost to find him. He still forgives, he still embraces, he still waits for those he longs to heal, touch and change so they can enjoy his kingdom and the freedom he has to offer.
What is your stance on the healing conundrum? If you saw a healing happen in front of your face would you believe it? If you didn’t see it and only heard about it would you rejoice and have a faith increase or would doubt and have negative emotion present? (John 20:29)
What would it take to believe in a God who performs miracles today – having one manifest in your own life?
If you are having difficulty with this post, go back to God’s continuity, his sameness, his unchanging ways and ask yourself: “Whose opinion and perspective changed on how healing is to be viewed? God’s or mine? Where did I learn my stance? How can I back it Biblically?”
Updates:
Travel – One has left, most are packing and I am waiting for the sun to come and stay (it feels like Seattle not California!). I may be taking a short trip to Texas mid-June, but logistics are still up in the air.
Work – Training recruitment is underway! Want to learn what God thinks of business – and how to work every day from a kingdom perspective? Check out our training: Repurposing Business Training if you aren’t in the San Francsico Bay Area, no worries, we have remote training – just click on the link at the bottom of the page for details.
Requests:
Travel –A team of 18 is readying itself for Chennai, India. Please pray for them as they travel and for our Indian hosts who are busy prepping for the venture, recruiting clients, and nailing down details.
Work – Brett and Lyn are off to South Africa and Nigeria. Please pray they will be successful in all their endeavors (forums, sales meetings, etc.). Also, for me as I hold down the office while everyone else is away.
Life – for more rest and continued rejuvenation, relaxation and FUN!
