Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and faded away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue (Job 14:1, 2).
These words spoken by Job centuries ago come tumbling down to us in cataclysmic proportions. The leader of the avalanche is the pandemic caused by the Corona Virus. As of this day, January 10, 2021, 377,000 people have died from the virus in the USA. I have had family members, brethren, friends, and acquaintances die from the virus. I’m thankful vaccines are being distributed and additional treatments are helping combat this enemy to health, the economy, and life. In deed we are living in “troublesome times.”
To speak on a sad note, I am deeply aware and concerned about the attitudes and actions some have toward wearing masks, social distancing, and limited gatherings. Even among some Christians there is a disregard for these guidelines; some have created division and spread of the virus to others or caused quarantines. One of the popular remarks made by the rejecters of guidelines is, “The government will not tell me what to do. If I choose not to wear a mask it’s my business not theirs.”
Talk about inconsistent! These same rejecters let the government tell them what to do about paying taxes, obeying traffic laws, taking oaths, sending children to school, etc. Then there are the Scriptures that tell us to pay our taxes, pray for rulers, obey the law, not to curse those in power, love our enemies, do good to all men, etc.
I think, at least for me, the relevant question relates to God. Is God interested in our health? Does He care about what happens to His children—you and me—health wise? My answer is YES. It is yes based of Scripture.
BASIC SCRIPTURES ABOUT GOD AND HEALTH
I don’t have the time and space to go into a deep and detailed presentation relative to what God has said about what we can classify as health concerns. Hopefully, what follows will be a door opener to a more in-depth study.
Here are 10, what I call, bedrock truths to base what will follow on:
Health is an issue that relates to the human body (cf. Psalm 139:13-16).
God created man’s body and said “it was good” Gen. 2:7)
God gave Adam specific orders (Genesis 3:17-24)
God made promises relative to health (Jer. 30:7; 33:6).
God wishes for us a “merry heart” (Prov. 17:22).
The Holy Spirit dwells in the body (1 Cor. 6:19, 20).
God wants us to prosper and be in good health (3 Jno. 2).
Jesus died to guarantee the resurrection of our bodies (1 Cor. 15).
One day the body will die (Hebrews 9:27).
One day the body will be resurrected (Cf. 1 Cor. 15).
JESUS’ CONCERN FOR HEALTH ISSUES
The Gospels are filled with accounts of Jesus healing and performing miracles. Each one should be studied in its context; however, for my purposes I simply want to call our attention to the fact that Jesus was concerned with the health problems of people; reinforcing the point that our heavenly Father is concerned too. Affirming we should be concerned too.
Jesus heals an official’s son at Capernaum in Galilee (Jno. 4:43-54).
Jesus heals Peters mother-in-law sick with a fever (Matt. 8:14, 15).
Jesus cleanses a man with leprosy (Matt. 8:1-4).
Jesus heals a paralytic who was let down through the roof (Matt. 9:1-8).
Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (Matt. 12:9-14).…