It is a man’s good fortune to have health, and though some may disagree, it is clearly the will of God. 

The apostle John, writing to Gaius, said, “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers” (“3 John 1:2).  This is the one who identified himself as the “disciple whom He (Jesus) loved.”  That is to say, at least one of three with whom our Lord was the closest.  Having that proximity, observing Jesus in action and hearing His heart, he can be trusted to be conveying it.  So it can be surmised that prosperity and good health represent the heart of Jesus for His people.  

Yet not only for His people, but for all people.  It is said of the Christ that He “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.”  God’s will is not only that all would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, but to be healthy and whole in every respect. That many, if not most, aren’t, should point us to the God whose name is, as in Exodus 15:26, Jehovah-rapha–which translated means, “the Lord is our healer.” 

Some of our problems stem from external sources, such as the air we breathe, the water we drink, the jobs we have.  Others can be hereditary, passed down from one generation to another.  And then there is old age; in this era our bodies do not last forever, they eventually wear out and cease functioning.  The bottom line is that all bodily illnesses and diseases, plus deteriorating flesh, is the result of man’s fall; whereupon sin entered the world, and with it death.  

All of it, every sickness, every disease, should serve this one purpose: to turn us to God.  It is indeed helpful to have doctors and modern day medicines and technologies to aid us in healthiness, but not one of these can heal a man; God alone holds that office.  All else are servants of His.  

I note the apostle inserts the phrase in his prayer, “as your soul prospers.”  The benefit of Christianity, among the many, is that our soul is saved and our relationship with God restored.  Internal prosperity comes to us by way of the new birth.  This is simply a matter of course when a man gives his life to Jesus Christ.  Yes, Christians get sick, and some die (well, all die at some point, but you get my drift).  But the point is they can not only lay claim to both the word and will of God, they can appeal to the throne of grace, from which they receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  

I believe and affirm that in much the same way a man calls upon the name of the Lord in a state of conviction, and the Lord hears him and saves his soul, so also a man may call upon the Lord in any state of ill health and the Lord will come to his aid.  That this is so is seen all throughout the Bible.  

God allows in His wisdom what He could easily prevent by His power.  He allows, for example, the devil to prowl around like a roaring lion, and some even are devoured by him.  Why?  I am not necessarily prepared to answer that, except for that is the way it is.  Does God allow sickness? Disease?  Yes, He does.  He allows man to sin, too; so does that mean He approves of sin?  No, not at all.  He allows both, and there may well be reasons we shall never know this side of heaven, but I am absolutely certain as to what He is after:  our hearts.  Our wills.  Our compete dependence upon Him.  

So it is I pray for my brothers and sisters, that they may prosper and be in good health.  And I take this as God’s will for me too–and I lay claim to it.  If the Lord Jesus went to the trouble–the pain and the anguish–of being scourged for our healing, ought not I receive that?  Lay hold of that?  Believe God for it?  Absolutely.