Thanks to Adam and Eve, human life is full of struggles, sorrow, tragedy, and toil. It is tough to reconcile them with a God who is love, saves by His grace, and sustains with His mercy. Good and bad things happen to good and bad people - that is for sure. Human beings have tried to answer the reason 'why' questions throughout the centuries. Most attempts center on the Will of God, which has led to a belief in Him having multiple 'wills.'
It is believed that God is in direct control of all things – both good and bad - and nothing happens outside of His sovereign Will. Therefore, He allows bad things or permits them, including sickness, even though they are not from God and He is not responsible for causing them.
For example, some say God wants us to be healed of sickness because He created our bodies to heal themselves; others believe that He allows bad things such as sickness to happen for some reason or another even though it is not from Him. God can use anything and anyone for His purpose and glory to advance His Kingdom and the Gospel of Jesus Christ and could prevent bad things from happening if He wanted to, but often chooses not to, which has led to the multi-will belief system.
‘Why does God' allow the Born-Again Christian to get sick’ tends to be the most asked question, especially with the following verse in mind;
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5 KJV).
Given God's merciful goodness, saying He allows bad things, such as sickness, is the same as saying He is responsible for it - which He is not. Saying it is His will is blaming Him indirectly for it. There is simply no Scriptural support for that supposition. God is a good God and only wants the best for His Bride. Sickness is not one of them. It is one of a legion of things brought about by the Fall of Adam and Eve, and their sin affecting the DNA of everything. The disease of dying and death is one of those things that will never be healed in this life.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter who is to blame for sickness or disease. Most importantly, God is looking for those who will trust Him no matter what. The Bible tells us how to live a long and healthy life, but it does not promise a sickness or disease-free life because we all will die from them one day. Blame it on Adam and not God.
"Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him" (Psalm 115:3 ESV; 135:6)
The Bible declares that "in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28 NIV). Note that it does not say that God "causes" or "allows" bad things to happen so that He can test or try one's faith to make them a "better" or "stronger" person or to discipline or punish them.
God's great promise is that He will enter INTO every circumstance to make it right and work it out for the best. God doesn't create horrible events just to provide "opportunities" to prove He is faithful or so that people can prove they trust Him during hard times or grow spiritually! Nor does He "use" or "allow" bad things such as suffering, as "loving" correction of His children.
The word "allow" is defined as "to forbear or neglect to restrain or prevent." God desires only the best for His people, whom He calls His Bride (Revelation 21:9) because He is head over heels in love with her. He desires to pour out (not restrain!) blessing upon blessing to those who trust Him with their entire being. If a person gives their permission to someone and allows them to drive drunk, they are legally responsible, just as the person who got drunk. God does not condone, permit, allow, give, punish or approve of sickness or any evil thing.
God will never neglect His Bride or prevent her from experiencing deep intimacy when she cries out in desperate longing for more of Him. He has blessed her with every spiritual blessing. (Ephesians 1:3) He only gives her gifts that are good and perfect (James 1:17). Pain, suffering, and tragedy are diametrically opposed to good and perfect.
God's Sovereign Plan
God has only one Will - His sovereign plan for us in all situations because He is omniscient and has knowledge of all truth in every potential situation, whether before the beginning, in the middle, or at the ending, under all possible interpretations of any component. God knows everything that could will or does happen. Before God spoke the world into existence, He knew independently what a person would freely choose if placed in any possible circumstance.
God alone grants salvation. Because He is love, He gave humans the free will to choose to accept or reject Him and to love or hate Him. He knows what choices a person will make, whether good or bad, just as a parent can understand their child's choices in a given situation, whether or not they make them. He perfectly accomplishes His will in their lives (Matthew 11:23). He knew that sin would enter the world, but He is not the author of sin. God does not actively bring about overt acts of sin, suffering, or pain because He is good and merciful.
We are pressed on every side by troubles but are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God will never abandon us. We get knocked down but can get up again and keep going. Through suffering, our frail and finite human body constantly shares in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our body (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).
God does not have "alternative plans" should we make decisions contradictory to His perfect Will because our decisions would already have been known and purposed in His Will for us. Scripture does not support the concept of multiple wills, given the understanding of God's character and nature. God's various "wills" are contrived human attempts to understand God and excuses to use when a person can't explain difficult situations. They put God into a box.
The problem with multiple "wills” is that the Bible speaks of only one Will – God’s perfect and sovereign Will. The sovereignty of God essentially means that He can do whatever He wants, however He wants, and wherever He wants.
"God's Will" refers to His work in both creation and individual people's lives. It is not mysterious or mystical. The term is often used to refer to God's guidance and plan for one's life, such as a career choice or choosing a marriage partner. (Remember this - God always gives the best to those who leave the choice with Him!)
The Bible is about God's will, which is as vast as His complete plan for creation and is unchanging. What God has planned, He will bring to pass. Every Born-Again Christian is to align their life with, and do, God's Will. Their daily prayer should be "I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:8 ESV).
When Jesus chose to come to earth to die on behalf of all humanity, He was 100% human and 100% God. The ministry of Jesus on earth as a human was fully conformed to the Will of God. He said, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me" (John 4:34). Jesus also said, "I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me" (John 5:30; 6:28-40 ESV).
Every Born-Again Christian must continually pray that His kingdom comes and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). The proof they are born from above is by habitually doing God's Will (Matthew 12:50; Mark 3:35).
"So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:17-20 ESV)
Every Born-Again Christian must aim to both pray and live according to the sovereign Will of God (1 John 5:14). When we miss the mark, the Holy Spirit "intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:27 ESV). He gives us confidence for "endurance, so that when" we "have done the will of God," we "may receive what is promised" (Hebrews 10:56-36 ESV).
The Bible reveals what encompasses the Will of God for our lives.
1. All who trust in Jesus will have eternal life (John 6:20)
2. The Holy Spirit intercedes for every Christian (Romans 8:27)
3. Provide service to others with a good heart as to the Lord and not to people (Ephesians 6:6-7)
4. Stand mature and fully assured in Jesus (Colossians 4:13)
5. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution (1 Peter 2:13)
6. Do good so you can put to silence the ignorance of foolish people (1 Peter 2:15)
7. Do not love the world or the things in the world (1 John 2:17)
8. Do good deeds and share what you have (Hebrews 13:15-16)
9. Abstain from fornication and all kinds of sex sins (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
10. Know how to possess the vessel in sanctification and honor (1 Thessalonians 4:4).
11. Let there be no strong sexual desire for anyone who is not your spouse (1 Thessalonians 4:5).
12. Avoid sexual lust and sin (1 Thessalonians 4:6)
13. Walk in holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:7)
14. Do not despise others (1 Thessalonians 4:8)
15. Love one another (1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Corinthians 13)
16. Increase in love (1 Thessalonians 3:12, 4:10)
17. Study to be quiet (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Timothy 2:15)
18. Be diligent in business (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
19. Work with your hands (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 4:12; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:10)
20. Walk honestly before everyone (1 Thessalonians 4:12)
21. Have a bright hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)
22. Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
23. Do good to others when suffering and entrust yourself to Jesus (1 Peter 4:19)
24. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19)
CONCLUSION
Every Born-Again Christian must do the will of God. Just as Paul the Apostle, we were chosen by God to know His will, so we must make every effort to let His Will be known to all (Acts 20:27, 22:14). We must be filled with “the knowledge of His will" and “stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God” (Colossians 1:9; 4:12 ESV). It begins by studying God's Word, the Bible (See Ephesians 5:17).
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2 ESV)
God doesn't always reveal His Will with a specific "yes" or "no" answer or through "signs." The Born-Again Christian is implored to 'find' or 'discover' God's Will as revealed in the Bible and not from any 'open' or 'closed' doors they come across in life. Too often, some believe that a specific Bible verse is 'speaking' to them to help make a decision or provide direction even though the meaning may be taken out of context. Some will "put out a fleece" as Gideon did to test God's will even though the Bible tells us what God's will is (See Judges 6:36-40). Others seek divine direction through visions, prophecies, and hearing God's audible voice. The only way to know His voice is to study His written Word. God wants us to understand biblical principles, make good and wise decisions, and live obediently by drawing upon the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in every situation in life. It is imperative to remember that God is not the author of sickness, disease, pain, sorrow, or temptation. He simply does not allow or wills it to happen, nor is He responsible for it.
In closing, here is a poem that summarizes the Will of God.
The will of God will never take you
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.
The will of God will never take you
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never take you
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.
"God is at work in everything.
We may not see the wisdom of it all now, but trust and believe
He will work in everything for our best.
The way to be anxious about nothing is to
be prayerful about everything.
Author Unknown
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