The Blessings of Illness

There is nothing like serious illness entering a family and home to concentrate the mind on our mortality.  Death is waiting for us, if Christ does not first return to take us home and to wind up history and usher in the Final Judgement. When we think of death, we cannot get away from our own sin. Then we are cast unreservedly upon Jesus’ sin-bearing love for forgiveness and acceptance with the holy God.  With Horatius Bonar, we can sing,

Mine is the sin, but Thine the righteousness;
Mine is the guilt but Thine the cleansing blood;
Here is my robe, my refuge and my peace,
Thy blood, Thy righteousness, O Lord my God!

Where would any of us be but for Christ’s cleansing blood?  Lost and undone for eternity. Yes, we are and always will remain sinners; but we are redeemed sinners who are now clothed and robed in Christ’s perfect righteousness.  All that is wrong with us belongs to us; but everything that makes us acceptable with God is His.  The only righteousness we have is in Him alone. And that is ours only because of the cleansing blood of our precious Saviour.  We are safe in Him for time and for eternity.  

That’s why for the Christian, death holds no real fear because Christ has removed the sting of death which is sin.   However, illness reminds us of our sinfulness and mortality. And we are human and have all the human emotions that go along with serious illness. And because this life and our life in Christ is all we know, the unknown future is and can be somewhat frightening, of we’re honest.  We are fearful because we are human; but we can sing with Henry Francis Lyte, 

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Having and knowing the abiding Christ with us and in us is the greatest possible assurance any believer can have.  Indeed, if our faith in the risen Christ cannot help us to face the last enemy – death, then of what use is it?  It might just be a faith of words alone, like so much of our prayers.  Serious illness brings us right back to ‘the solid Rock,’ Christ Jesus, for only He can support and comfort us in trying times.

That does not mean that we do not feel the seriousness of Margaret’s situation, for we do.  We have our thoughts which sometimes we share with each other and sometimes we keep to ourselves.  If the worst comes to the worst, we do not want to leave this life and part; yet we know that “to depart” and “to be with Christ” is “far better.” Being where He is is heaven.