Sickness helps to remind men of death. Most live as if they were never going to die. They follow business, or pleasure, or politics, or science, as if earth was their eternal home. They plan and scheme for the future, like the rich fool in the parable, as if they had a long lease of life, and were not, tenants at will. A heavy illness sometimes goes far to dispel these delusions. It awakens men from their day-dreams, and reminds them they have to die as well as to live. Now this I say emphatically is a mighty good.
~ J.C. Ryle
Practical Religion, “Sickness”, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1998], 360.
Thanks for this post, Erik. Right on as usual.
As I passed the half-century mark 2 years ago, I’ve come to (grudgingly LOL) learn some of the “positives” of growing old. First among these is the need for a greater reliance upon the Lord’s strength; another is an increasing awareness that I won’t live forever, which Ryle treats in this comment.
I often hear people say the best way to “go” is suddenly, or in one’s sleep. But I’ve come to disagree. It seems to me we should view the increasing frailties of old age — and perhaps even the onset of an incurable disease — more like a gift than a curse, because it serves to remind us that we’re not long for this world, that we need to get our affairs in order, and prepare to meet our God (2 Ki. 20:1).
Now I believe in Divine Healing, and that sickness entered the race through sin, and that if God so willed it, any one of us would be immediately raised from our bed of infirmity with the merest twitch of His mighty finger. But on the other hand, if I TRULY believe “my times are in Thy hand” (Ps. 31:15), how could I view NOT receiving deliverance or healing as some sort of curse? Even the great Prophet Elisha was taken to the Lord by an apparently prolonged sickness (2 Ki. 14:34). Much better IMO than a sudden “going” which might, unfortunately, catch us unawares (cf. Lu. 21:34).
It’s unfortunate that many of need ill health to realize the”vaporness” to our lives
I don’t wish dissapointment in marriage , yet many tend to initially idolize love and marriage to the point where the Lord may not be First. When a spouse let’s you down ideally it’s the time to turn all our pain to the Lord and not allow ourselves to get caught up in human expectations. I am suprized to see so many christians divorce because it did not turn out the way they expected. You can get out of marrige but not so with sickness. Yet really can we get out of marriage on the bases of ir-recnosilable differences. No it’s like the humility in submitting to illness, seeking God to deliver us
Wow! Today I woke up with an unexpected sickness. This is great! thanks for posting sir.
Oh wow. Truth, though.
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by JCRyleQuotes: Today’s Quote: The Perspective of Sickness http://bit.ly/dgNJl0...
[...] –J.C. Ryle [...]