3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
This passage of scripture, although addressed to Gaius, represents God will for all of His people. The issue of health is especially important and relevant to us today, since we are more exposed than ever before, to many different diseases, ailments, cancers, and heart attacks, which are largely due to improper habits of eating and drinking. This is particularly the case right here in America, where an abundance of junk food and sugary drinks are ingested by millions, and coupled together with the genetically modified foods we eat, the stage is thus set for an onslaught of diseases which cause the premature demise of millions each year.
When Christ walked this earth as a man, the Bible tells us that He went about doing good and healing all the diseases of the people. However in not one instance did the question of whether or not it was the will of God ever came up, for as far as Jesus was concerned, God had already made known His will for His people on this very important issue. Let's read:
Psalms 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The issue That Christ most often addressed was not whether it was God's will, but rather whether the person in question had sufficient faith to believe. This was made abundantly clear in the following incident which occurred right after the transfiguration. Let's read:
Matthew 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
The reason why the disciples had failed in their attempts to heal the man's son, was not because it wasn't God's will, it was because of a lack of faith. Let's read:
Matthew 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
It is important for us to believe, but it is also important for us to cooperate with Christ in achieving maximum health, by adhering to the spiritual, physical, and social laws which God has given in the Bible. Many of us presume on God's goodness by habitually ingesting those items of food that we know are not for our best good, and many more eat foods that have been banned for human consumption in the scriptures. Yet we still expect that the promises of good health would be fulfilled in their season through the miracle working power of God.
This is not how God works, for everything that is good and upright, that is worth achieving, is always done in tandem with our Creator, and thus, God's will for our health should also be accomplished along the same lines. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which calls upon us to do the best in caring for our bodies, for they are the temple of the living God, and should consequently be kept in optimum condition, wherever possible. Let's read:
1st Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
May we now begin to implement this text as we cooperate with God in enjoying good health and length of days. God bless!