TERMINAL ILLNESS, DEATH, AND THE CHRISTIAN
Daniel Valles 7/29/7   www. informedchristians.com

We are all touched by the curse of sin. As human beings living in fleshly bodies, we all will one day be faced with the realities of sickness and death. We all know friends and family, even some of you, who have terminal sicknesses. We also know many who have died as a result of their illness. Many times the question comes up, “Why me?”, or “Why them?” As Christians, these times can be trying times both in our faith, and what we tell the lost. This essay will not be a look at why bad things happen to good people; but, rather, what do Christians do when bad things happen? We are going to examine several Biblical examples of people that faced terminal illnesses, the results, and their reactions.

Oftentimes we as Christians can be tempted to think that we are exempt from pain and suffering. Some false teachers tout a false ‘health and wealth’ snake oil that sickness and other similar calamities are indicative of being out of the will of God. They are lying, preying on the hopes of the hurting. Hebrews 9:27 says, “…it is appointed unto men once to die…” Death and sickness is a result of man’s sin in the Garden of Eden. It is so normal for all of mankind, that Scripture does not elaborate much on the deaths of great men from sickness. Sometimes we tend to think that the great prophets and men of God just all happened to peacefully die in their sleep one day. However, Scripture does make reference to the messenger of death for several of them. II Kings 13:14 records, “Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died…”  Elisha, the great man of God - the man twice the man of Elijah - died of a terminal illness. Elisha, the prophet who was used to bring the dead child back to life, who helped Naaman be cured of leprosy - died of a terminal illness.

II Kings 20:1-5 records, “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.” King Hezekiah had a terminal illness which almost took his life. Except for God’s merciful intervention, his illness would have been his cause of death. What we should glean from this passage is that when the hard times of terminal illness and death come knocking on a Christian’s door, our heart and prayers should be toward God. Too many times we fall into asking of the Lord after we have exhausted the medical help. Yes, we can obtain medical help; but when the prognosis of terminal cancer or imminent death is pronounced, we must seek our Lord. We must also glean from this passage that God does hear the prayers and tears of those who earnestly seek Him. Perhaps you are entering the valley of sickness, or know someone close who is. God will hear your prayers. Proverbs 15:29 proclaims, “The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.” Make sure that you have confessed your sins to God and have repented of your sins. James 5:16 says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

II Chronicles 16:12-13 records, “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.” Here we find similar circumstances to Hezekiah, but with completely opposite outcomes. Asa had a disease that was “exceeding great”; yet, he never sought the LORD. His trust was not in the Great Physician, but in the supposed knowledge of his cronies. Too many times, we do not take our needs, even in the small things, to God. We can be tempted to think that science and modern medicine may have a problem tackled; but if we have our faith on that instead of God, we end up tempting God. A doctor or surgeon can only cut you up and stitch you back together – it is God that heals you. Doctors do not have the power to heal. Asa should have taken his petition to God, and followed it up with medical help.

God may not always answer the way we want, but He has assured us that He will hear us, and that our prayers do avail much. In John 11:3-5 we find part of the account about Lazarus. “Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” In Hezekiah’s case, he prayed out to God for healing, and he was healed. In Lazarus’ case, his sisters prayed to Jesus that He would heal their brother; but, He did not. Later on, we find that Jesus deliberately waited so that He could raise Lazarus from the dead for His glory. There are many times that prayers for healing do not result in the healing that we prayed for. Sometimes you hear people ask about why God didn’t heal their relative or loved one. We can hear the same echoes in Martha as she said, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” (vs. 21-22) In a sense she was telling Him, “Lord, we prayed for you to come and heal him, but why didn’t you listen?” It is notable that when the terminal illness showed up, they knew who to go to. Yet, you can almost hear Jesus telling her, “Martha, even though I was two-days away physically, I was here with you the whole time.” Even before Lazarus died, Jesus knew what was going to happen. It was not as though He was out of town and was unable to do anything. Christ heard their prayers, was there the whole time, and He knew exactly what the outcome was going to be. Christian, God does not always answer our prayers for healing the way we may like; but, He has given us assurances that at no time do we pass out of His control. Romans 8:38-39 reassures us, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sickness, pain, and even death cannot change that God loves us. It is important that right before Lazarus died, the Bible records “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” (vs. 5) Yes, He allowed Lazarus to experience death by terminal illness; but, He still loved him, and was in complete control.

In II Kings 15:5, Scripture records one who died of a terminal disease. “And the LORD smote the king [Azariah], so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house…” What is interesting to note is that just two verses above it in verse three, it states: “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done…” Leprosy was the worst disease and death sentence one could get in their day. Not only the physical results wearing on the individual, but the cultural and mental results of being an outcast from not only family and friends, but all people, took a horrible toil. To not be able to give your children a hug or kiss anymore, to not be able to embrace any of your loved ones, to leave your community and live in isolation was hardly wished on one’s worst enemy. Here we find one, who desired to serve God; yet, he contracted this deadly disease. The Scripture states in verse five, that “…the LORD smote the king…” Just as Jesus brought about the circumstances surrounding Elisha, Hezekiah, and Lazarus’ death, so He was also in complete control of Azariah’s circumstances.

In Acts 9:36-37, we find another child of God who died of sickness. “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died…” Sometimes the sweetest people we know go through the hardest of illnesses and death. Many an elder child of God has gone on home to Heaven through the means of illness. When terminal illness and disease strikes close to home in our life, or in one we love, our reaction should not be one of surprise, or take affront to it, but we should recognize that illness and death is no respecter of persons.

Sadly, illness and death is no respecter of children either. II Kings 4:18-20 records, “And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.” What is so sad in this case was the unannounced and severe ailment which took his life. There are many times that death and illness catch us off guard when we do not expect it. Our life is extremely fragile and can change forever in just a short amount of time. As this particular passage unfolds, it reveals her reaction to this hard time. (II Kings 4:22-23) “And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.” Her first reaction after the tragic loss of her first and only son was not to seek counseling, lash out at her husband, or even lash out at God. Her first reaction was that she needed to seek out the man of God about God’s promise to her regarding a son. God had given her a promise of a son, and she was able to act in confidence that regardless of the circumstances, God would keep His promises. When asked by her husband about what the outcome might be, her response reflected her heart: “It shall be well.” Christian, if you have not been visited by sudden tragedy in your life, it will come some day. You may have experienced it all too well already. In any case, our mind should dwell on God’s promises. Our hope and salvation is in Him. God has not promised that He will take the storms away; but He has promised that He would be with us as we go through them. Isaiah 43:2 promises, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Even though the way may get rough and hot, God is always in control. He hears us, and His presence is near us when we draw nigh to Him. John 14:16-18 promises, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”  We may never get a reason of ‘why’ tragedy happened. We may never see miraculous results averting tragedy. We may never feel that our prayers for deliverance were answered the way that we would have liked. Yet God still loves His children, and is still in control. If Christ had never healed Lazarus, He would have still loved him and been in control. Christ hears our prayers and sees our tears; yet sometimes His answer is, “I know you love them, and so do I.”

As Christians, we must constantly remember that our Heavenly Father has a different and larger perspective than we do. Several times in Scripture we find that the timing of one’s death is purposeful and related to other events. In II Chronicles 34:28, we find an interested announcement about king Josiah’s future death. “Behold, I will gather thee [Josiah] to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same…” God told Josiah that God’s judgment on the nation for their sin would happen only after Josiah died. Josiah would be spared witnessing God’s judgment on his nation. Sometimes God brings people to their heavenly home so that they will not see what wickedness our world will further sink into. Oftentimes we wonder why such great men and women of God are taken by some terminal illness or sudden death. God has told us in Isaiah 55:8-9, “…my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

We may never know, this side of Heaven, why He has brought certain people and loved ones home. We can, however, understand that, for the Christian, death is only a temporary separation on our way to a permanent destination. God’s concept of death is not an ending, but a means to a new beginning. Isaiah 57:1-2 reveals part of God’s perspective on what we may term ‘untimely death’: “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” God is saying here that most people do not think of death as God’s deliverance from “the evil to come.” God tells us that to be separated by death is an entering into a rest for the soul with Christ. Our saved loved ones and friends have entered into a rest – a rest from this world’s sin and the curse of death. They are not dead – they are asleep in Jesus, awaiting the resurrection day in which we will be reunited in that blessed rest with our present Comforter and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

II Corinthians 1:3-6 comforts us with, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.” No matter what tribulation we may be facing, we can be comforted by God if we trust in His wisdom as to the outcome and results.

Our Comforter and Saviour knows what is best for us, even though we might not understand. He hears our prayers, sees our tears, and gives grace beyond measure. In II Corinthians 12:8-10, Paul says, “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Christian, perhaps you have a terminal illness or have experienced the death of one close to you. Christ is our Comforter who hears our heart’s cry. Even though our minds may not see an answer to why God allows certain situations, we can rest in that He provides us grace to see us through. Christ knows that we cannot see the whole picture of why things happen; so He provides us the grace and strength to trust Him more that He knows what is best. Satan will try to use these times to pull us away from God, making us doubt that He knows best and is in control. In the Garden of Eden, God knew the full scope and implication of mankind’s eating of the fruit. Satan’s tool with Adam and Eve was to doubt that God knew what was best. When we go near or through the valley of death, we can either accuse God of acting unfairly – or, as His children, embrace our Heavenly Father who can comfort us even when we do not have the answers. In Job 13:15, Job boldly cries out, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Our trust is in His infinite wisdom. Even though we do not know why God is allowing certain things in our life, our trust in Him coupled with His grace allows us to serve Him steadfastly even though we cannot see the end. Paul looked beyond the infirmities of the flesh and circumstances that surrounded him, and saw a God not only fully in control, but also as the Comforter who provides the grace and strength we need to trust Him more.

Christian, I pray that though our eyes may not see a reason - our eyes may see our Saviour faithfully by our side. Though our ears may not hear the news we expected to hear - we will hear His still small voice. When our hands fail us – we realize they are held by His hands.

“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand,
saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Isaiah 41:13

“Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.” Psalm 94:17