Jeremiah 8: 21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
Even though we may have gotten accustomed to the systems, facilities, and norms of health care in this country, we must be aware that great changes are on the way, and the remnant people of God are not to place implicit trust in manmade ways and means, for there are times when you will be disappointed.
The Bible teaches us that “the just shall live by faith” and another passage says “In all our ways we are to acknowledge Him”, meaning that even if we use the facilities and conventional ways and means that are at our disposal, we should always leave some wiggle room for God, just in case the proverbial rug may be pulled out from under our feet.
Sudden and drastic changes are on the way almost daily, and the Christian in our day will have to learn to adjust to the changing circumstances as they will unfold. The solutions to your health care problems are not to be found solely in man, in every situation without exception.
There are times, and there will be times when after the arm of flesh has failed, the promises of God and the instructions He has revealed to us will need to be given a second look, especially as many millions of people are beholding the fragmentation of their safety nets.
The Christian in our day might just have to choose between standing on the promises, or looking to a mortal man for help, of which the latter can prove to be seriously flawed at times. Many persons are hoping and praying that the clock will not run out on their health insurance.
And we are not to say whether this would indeed be the case, all we are saying is that in some, or many instances, persons may be literally priced out of the system, and if this is the case, many will be looking for something to fall back on.
That’s just the fact in the matter, and thus, the grim prospect is before us where we may have to choose between insurance and the blessed assurance. That this a very real possibility for millions of people can be seen by the astronomical increase in premiums, across the health care spectrum.
Not because some may have great health insurance does not mean that we can’t identify with the pain, frustration and foreboding that many are now facing and some who are now insulated from the pain may soon have pause for concern.
If you are a family on a fixed income, there is only so much you can do with your disposable income, and if the premiums are out of reach, you would have to seek out alternatives. It is one of satan’s devices to put two bad choices on the table, so that any which way you turn, you may be hedged in with difficulty.
Take for instance a person who now lives in Texas who was told by her insurer that her premiums will be going from $862.00 to $1,380.00 per month as of January next year. If you are on a fixed income and if you do have preexisting conditions you can be faced with hard and difficult options.
The haunting question would always be, what am I going to do in case of an unexpected emergency? Or what would happen to me if I developed a situation that required major surgery, with an extended stay in the hospital? Will persons then have to sell their souls in order to access the health care system, or is there another option on the table?
Again, if you want to get a pulse of the realities on the ground, all you have to do is speak to one, Miss Montgomery, who, at 63 years of age is now facing a relentless battle with lung cancer, and whose costs per month could go from $541.00 to $1758.00 per month.
Listen carefully to her cry, in her own words, as she mulls the possibility of what that could mean for her in her situation: “I have to face the reality that I am probably going to become a late-stage cancer patient who’s uninsured,” Montgomery said. “I have fought this so hard. I want to live.”
Now, while we are not here to take sides with this or that position we cannot help crunching the numbers and reasoning things to their logical end. If, like Miss Mongomery, you simply don’t have the resources to pay your premiums, and you have an unfortunate health crisis on your hands, what will your options be?
It sounds like the perfect storm that could send you into panic mode, looking for any other alternatives. Some folks might decide to try alternative medicine, others, like Dr. Sanjay Gupta may resort to Ayurvedic Medicine, while others may try some of the eastern arts, while others might be forced to consider some type of faith healing.
Now, if in your desperation, someone were to come along and offer you healing for free, many persons will be moved to consider that option, especially if from your sick bed you’re seeing on the news that a whole lot of people are being healed by that specific person, and they’re not being charged a single cent.
All of a sudden, that could become a real and viable option since your back is against a wall and you may have nowhere else to turn. Could this be a figment of our imagination, or can it be a very real possibility our world is now being prepared for?
As we ponder the grim prospect, something comes to mind, that has been written in the Scriptures, and we have to wonder if all roads are now leading to a specific convergence of circumstances that God has repeatedly warned the inhabitants of earth of, that the miracles mentioned in end time prophecies will play a major role in the final conflict, as desperation sets in. Let’s read:
2nd Thessalonians 2: 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
These verses tell us with certainty that the miracle working power of satan will be on display in a major way, as earth’s history draws to a close. When Jesus was upon this earth, the miracles of healing played a major role in convincing the people that He was The Son of God.
Everywhere Christ went, the multitudes thronged about Him, because the issue of health has plagued the human family since the fall of man, and today, it still touches a raw nerve especially when individuals are in dire need of healing.
When your back is against the wall, and you have no place else to turn, all of a sudden, the prospect of a healer coming through for you can seem very viable, especially if it will cost you nothing. Let’s read:
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
All manner of disease and sickness would include every form, and every stage of cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s, infections of all sorts, depression and mental illnesses, blood clots, varicose veins, heart disease, and Schizophrenia, just to name a few.
All manner of disease and sickness means exactly all manner of disease and sickness, and according to the scriptures, Jesus became very famous because of His healing powers in so much that He hardly had time to catch Himself, since the needs were so great and pressing. Let’s read:
Matthew 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
Luke 4:38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
Could it be that we are facing the prospect of some supernatural healer walking the earth, just like Jesus did, healing all the diseases of the people and would he like Christ, become very famous as a result. If the multitudes of people are hedged in with a situation, where they cannot afford health care anymore, is the stage being set for the unthinkable?
Chris and Donna Vetter have made the agonizing decision to drop their health insurance, saying they simply cannot afford it. Donna has atrial fibrillation and their premium is scheduled to go from $401.00 per month to $1975.00. Could a supernatural healer be their best or only alternative, especially since it will be for free? Let’s read:
[The Great Controversy pp 624] In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation.
In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Savior uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed.
In the times of crisis and desperation, worship might seem to be a small trade off in exchange for healing, especially if your back is against the wall, you have nowhere else to turn, you cannot afford the sky high premiums and if, as far as you know there’s no other alternative.
Therefore, before we get into the Bible study, let us ask and answer some fundamental questions, which have a direct bearing on the subject matter, so that we may know what our options are at such a time as this. We are going to start from scratch, and we’ll let the Bible explain itself.
Question [1] Can satan cause and bring disease upon people?
We’re not going to deal with the issue of permission at this time, we just want to know whether or not he has the power to bring disease. Let’s read:
Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent everyone his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
Luke 13: 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
Now, if he can bring diseases, the very next logical question is, can he cure them for real. We are not speaking of some of those fake healings which have been on display for many years. We are referring to the real Mccoy.
Question [2] Can satan do genuine works of healing diseases? Let’s read:
Acts 8: 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which before time in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one.
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, this man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
The words: “From the least to the greatest” and “To him they had regard” tell us unmistakenly that this man was held in very high esteem, both by those in authority, and your everyday Joe. In other words, he was famous, and was well respected in high and low places.
Furthermore, you do not become famous by doing false works of healing, or any other fake miracles for that matter, and since intelligent people began to take note by coming to him as a reliable source, if it was fake, the upper echelons of society and the well educated would have discovered the fraud, sooner or later.
Obviously, Simon was doing what he did through the power of the devil, because miracles only have two sources, God or satan, and if they do not originate with The Lord, the only default setting is that they are coming from the devil. That this conclusion is true can be observed by Peter’s response to him. Let’s read:
Acts 8: 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that you’re in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.
[The Great Controversy pp 553] The apostle John, describing the miracle-working power that will be manifested in the last days, declares: “He does great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do.”
No mere impostures are here foretold. Men are deceived by the miracles which Satan’s agents have power to do, not which they pretend to do.
[The Great Controversy pp 624] He heals the diseases of the people. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying, this is “the great power of God.”
Let’s now go into the Bible study: “When Your Back Is Against The Wall” ---- God’s health care Plan Part [2]
There is a lot of noise concerning the issue of health and there are many soothsayers who might present various ways and alternative means by which folks can maintain good health and longevity. However, if it is our desire to be in line with God’s will for us on this issue, we will have to include obedience to His instructions as being indispensable to success.
In every single aspect of the Christian’s life, faith and obedience are foundational requirements for us to partake of His promises. To put it plainly, if we were to desire health, the information God has given will have to be applied in the most practical sense.
It’s the only way that He could prepare us for prime time, when those systems, ways and means we have become accustomed to, will no longer be available to persons who refuse to bow. No one knows how soon this might materialize, but the way things are going now we may be looking at sooner rather than later.
Therefore, let us try to understand the conditions of God’s promises on health, and His preferred manner of working in the here and now, so that we could be clear in our minds as to what needs to be done. Let’s read:
Luke 4: 40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and He laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
You will observe that in many of the cases where Jesus healed the people en-masse, He did not ask them anything about any contributing factors, He just healed them all in most cases. There are some instances where Jesus referred to the issue of cause and effect, however, in the overwhelming majority of cases, He simply healed them.
The reason for this is that back then there was not a ton of information on cause and effect, thus, people did many things ignorantly, and as the Bible clearly states, in the times of one’s ignorance, God winks.
But now, as a general rule, Jesus is asking questions before doing miraculous works, because we have at our disposal troves of valuable information on cause and effect, so that we need not err in our choices or actions.
Critically important information on diets and foods, on exercise, on the physiology of the body, are now literally at our fingertips, so yes, Jesus is asking a lot of questions before performing His miracles, in very many cases. Let’s read:
James 4: 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin.
This is one of the main reasons, why, for the most part, miracles do not play a prominent role as they once did, especially amongst the remnant people of God.
Therefore, there are three simple pointers that mark out the course to be pursued at such a time as this, when a crisis in the healthcare industry may be just on the horizon. The first one has to do with obeying God’s revealed will as best as we can.
[1] Obeying God’s revealed ideal will as best as we can. Let’s read:
Exodus 15: 26 If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that heals thee.
This means that we will have to do the right thing as pertains to His instructions on health. Folks will also have to keep His commandments, and statutes, and we will have to be diligent in doing so by the choices we make and the actions we take.
These things are to be accomplished through God’s power working in us through His Holy Spirit, but The Spirit of God does not override intelligent deliberate choice. Everything, including health, always involves self-denial and cooperation if it is to become reality. This is what is included in walking humbly with God.
This means that there will be some things we might have to give up, and there may be things we’ll have to start doing, in order to be fully aligned with God’s revealed will, or else the scriptural version of health will become an elusive dream.
In satan’s version of health, you do not have to give up anything, and if your current condition has been the result of any habit or practice that was contrary to God’s revealed will, no changes are required.
Not so with God’s health care plan, for in whatever we do, the Christian should be seeking out His ideal will, not looking for loop holes whereby we continue to indulge our cravings contrary His will. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 10: 31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.
This leads to our second point in God’s health care plan: [2] Prevention is always better than cure.
When sickness and disease come our way, diligent search should be made as to whether or not we’ve contributed to the problem by our choices and our actions, and if so, definite and permanent changes are to be made, no matter how painful they might be.
Very many diseases, ailments or adverse conditions that exist today are actually preventable. Not only does much information come from the prophets of God, but the health industry is full of instructions as to how we can avoid or stave off health problems.
Take for instance the Scriptural instruction given on the eating of sweets, to help in preventing diabetes and sweet diseases that have become so rampant in our day, and which now have persons looking to GLPs as a savior in many instances. As the bible says, we are going to study line upon line and precept upon precept. Let’s read:
Proverbs 24: 13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste.
Proverbs 25:16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest you be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Proverbs 25:27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
When taken together as a whole, the three passages declare that honey is good, but it should be taken in quantities that are warranted, and then the warning is given about overindulgence in sweets. The word “vomit” refers to the adverse effects it will have on the one who overindulges in sweets.
And then the prophets amplify that which Solomon wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that we can have a broader understanding of the issues of prevention and cure. No need to demonize honey as if it can troll us without our choice in the matter. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 9: 25 And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air.
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 562] True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful and to use judiciously that which is healthful. There are few who realize as they should how much their habits of diet have to do with their health, their character, their usefulness in this world, and their eternal destiny.
The appetite should ever be in subjection to the moral and intellectual powers. The body should be servant to the mind, and not the mind to the body.
Therefore, the next time you walk down the aisle at Publix, and you hear Ben and Jerrys beckoning to you from the freezer, here’s a simple prayer that will keep them at bay: “In the name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke you satan”.
This leads us to our third and final point pertaining to God’s health care plan:
[3] In most cases, miracles from God are to be your last resort, when the arm of flesh has failed and you have done all that you can possibly do. Let’s read:
Mark 5: 25 And a certain woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
In our day, this woman would have run out of other options, she would have spent all her money on her premiums, and, the health care system would have failed her, because her primary care doctor, as well as the specialists would have told her that there was nothing else they could do.
Therefore, after she had done all that she could to find a cure, she turned to the Mighty Healer for help and sure enough, she got an answer in the positive.
In other words, the Bible teaches us to exhaust all God-ordained options, while living in harmony with the light that has been shed on our pathway, and if everything fails, we can look to God for help. Let’s read:
[Medical Ministry pp 13>14] Many have expected that God would keep them from sickness merely because they have asked Him to do so. But God did not regard their prayers, because their faith was not made perfect by works.
God will not work a miracle to keep those from sickness who have no care for themselves, but are continually violating the laws of health and make no efforts to prevent disease.
The way in which Christ worked was to preach the word, and to relieve suffering by miraculous works of healing. But I am instructed that we cannot now work in this way; for Satan will exercise his power by working miracles. God’s servants today could not work by means of miracles because spurious works of healing claiming to be divine, will be wrought.
For this reason, the Lord has marked out a way in which His people are to carry forward a work of physical healing combined with the teaching of the word. This is the provision the Lord has made whereby gospel medical missionary work is to be done for many souls. These institutions are to be established out of the cities, and in them educational work is to be intelligently carried forward.
As subsidies are set to expire, and as premiums are scheduled to skyrocket, the you and me in the here and now may want to give God’s health care plan a second look, for the time will come when there may be only bad options on the table.
Again, if your back is currently against the wall, and there seems to be no way out of your predicament, you cannot go wrong with turning to Jesus for help, but we must be willing to follow the guidelines God has given us, because everything the Christian does is within the context of God working with freedom of choice.
We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will help us to make decisions in the positive, so that faith and works could converge at the crossroads of reality. Let’s read:
Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
God Bless!