the musings of this nigerian gal

My friend suddenly got sick yesterday. Really sick. And as out of the blues as out of the blues could ever be.

Earlier that day, we encountered a young boy who was begging for money. He had been having issues with his lungs and he needed a particular amount of money to do a scan.

I have read plenty of novels — and when I say plenty, I mean plenty — where the loved one of the main character or even the hero/heroine gets sick. With a devastating and absurd sickness. And most often than not, the sick person dies.

I watched the movie Clouds recently and when I realized that it was based on a true life story of a young life cut short, I was stumped.

Not because I didn’t know these stuff happen.

But when I think of how much God had in store for this life, right from his conception, I could only form one word. Why.

Why do bad things happen?

Why do people die in awful ways?

In those novels that I was talking about in the above paragraph, there’s always one school of thought that is present.

That it is God’s will. And that will is good.

I often read statements like “God gives and takes.” “Only God knows the number of days a person has on earth.”

However, these beg the question of is it really God’s will for a person to die at 2, 12, 20, even 50.

When the man with leprosy went to Jesus, he said “Lord, if you are willing, make me clean.” Jesus answered “I will.”

No hesitation.

No maybe.

No what if.

Every single sick, tormented, oppressed person that came to Jesus, He touched and made whole. Not one did He turn away. Not one did he say “you know what? I think Father God is going to be mad if I healed you.”

Even the griping and slow-witted man at Bethsaida was healed.

I believe strongly in divine healing. And I also strongly believe that it is God will that man — believers and unbelievers— dwell in perfect health.

Third John verse 2 says “beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.“

So when I see someone who is terribly sick or someone who dies from sickness, I don’t think or believe it’s from God’s end.

God doesn’t send sickness to people. God doesn’t punish His own with sickness. God’s will is not sickness. If it was, Jesus wouldn’t have been whipped and bruised. He wouldn’t have endured those pains.

Isaiah 53 said He carried the punishment that brought us peace — bodily, mental, spiritual peace. Holistic peace.

Sure, there are Christians who still died from sickness. Faith-filled Christians.

Do I know why?

No.

Sometimes it could be as a result of ignorance (not knowing what Christ has procured for them) or unbelief or a whole lot of stuff that I don’t know.

But is it God’s fault?

No.

Was it His will that they died that way?

No.

God is good and His thoughts towards us is good.