Steps to Healing

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:32-40 ESV). While I was on my recent travels and being in several cities over a brief period of time, I found myself surfing through the channels available on the motel televisions. Flipping through the channels, I came across a religious program with a preacher declaring the benefits of faith. I stopped for a moment and heard him promoting his most recent book. He said, “If you follow these steps in my book, it will show you how to have faith to be healed.” First, let me say that I do believe God still works supernaturally to cure illness in his children. I also believe that God has worked in a direct way to empower scientists, medical personnel, and others in the field of medicine to bring healing. I am also quite sure that God sometimes chooses to let us continue in our illness or heal us by taking us home through death. So, as someone who has lived for twenty-four years with a hereditary, incurable blood disease, I find it off-putting that someone would “guarantee” that when I follow certain steps of faith that I would be cured. God is not a vending machine that we put something in and automatically get what we select from him. Our faith brings us closer in fellowship to Him, which in turn gives us the peace and strength to do whatever we are called upon to do in the circumstances of life. In our reading today, the writer mentioned a number of people who had faith in the face of terrible circumstances. Some were jeered at, flogged, jailed, stoned, sawed in two, and killed by the sword. These people were not chastised for their lack of faith. Instead, they were commended and included in scripture as an inspiration. I find that truth much more encouraging than any other thing as I face each challenge of life. My faith connects me with the One who does deliver me from every enemy of life. No challenge is an enemy any longer because Jesus has conquered them all through his work of grace and love. My faith in that work guarantees heaven for me. And, that IS the ultimate healing work!