DOES THE DEVIL Make us Sick?

The Long-Term Solution

Sickness is not God's fault.  "With evil things God cannot be tried nor does he  himself try anyone."  (James 1:13)  If one of his worshipers gets sick, Jehovah  sustains him spiritually.  "Jehovah himself will sustain him upon a divan of illness; all his bed you will certainly change during his sickness."  (Psalm 41:3)  Yes, God has compassion.   He wants to help us, not hurt us.

Indeed, Jehovah has a long-term solution for sickness-Jesus' death and resurrection.  By means of Jesus' ransom sacrifice, righthearted ones are redeemed from their sinful condition and will eventually have access to perfect health and eternal life in a paradise earth.  (Matthew 5:5; John 3:16) Jesus' miracles were a preview of the true healing that  God's Kingdom will bring.  God will also remove Satan and  his demons.  (Romans 16:20) Indeed, Jehovah has wonderful things in store for those who exercise faith in him. We just need to be patient and endure.

In the meantime, God dispenses practical wisdom and spiritual direction by means of the Bible and the worldwide brotherhood of faithful worshipers.  He show us how to avoid the vices that cause health problems.  And he provides us with  true friends who will help when problems arise.

Think again of Job.  Going to a witch doctor would have been the worse thing Job could have done!  It would have deprived him of God's protection, and he would have lost out on all the blessings that awaited him after  his ordeal.  God did not forget Job,and he will not forget us.  "You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome Jehovah gave,"  Says the disciple James.  (James 5:11) If  we  never give  up, we too will receive wonderful blessings in God's due time.

What happened to little Owmadji?  Her mother remembered an article in The Watchtower's companion magazine, Awake!  About oral rehydration therapy.  She followed its instructions and prepared the solution for Owmadji to drink.  Now the little girl is fine and healthy.

Next time: YOUTHS-RESIST THE SPIRITS OF THE WORLD

Watchtower, 1999