84 Beloved — yet Sick

Beloved — yet Sick "Lord, behold he whom you love is sick!" John 11:3

Sickness is one of the effects of sin — but it is not always a proof of God’s displeasure. The objects of His love are a poor and afflicted people. Whom the Lord loves — he chastens. The objects of His love may be known.

They are peculiar in their experience:
they fear sin;
they have low views of themselves;
they prize the throne of grace;
they highly value God’s Word;
they love, cleave to, and depend entirely on Jesus for acceptance with God, and complete salvation;
they pant after holiness;
they pine for the presence of God; and
they prefer anything to being banished from Him.

They are singular in their practice:
they are separate from the world;
they are much in private with God;
they have no relish for the gaieties and vanities of the profane;
and they wish and aim to copy the example of the Lord Jesus Christ in all things.

They say by their life, pursuits, and profession: "I am the Lord’s!" The love of Jesus weans them from the world — and preserves them from inordinately loving the creature. The Savior loves all such. His love has been fixed on them from eternity past. His love to them is strong, tender, and deep. He loves them always, and will love them forever. But the love of Jesus does not prevent sickness; nay, sometimes it actually sends it! Lazarus was beloved — but Lazarus was sick. Bodily disease is often sent as a blessing — it is God’s medicine. . .
to purge out some gross humours from the soul;
to wean us more from the world;
to embitter sin; and
to bring us to feel more than ever our dependence on the Lord.

It is sometimes sent as a correction:
we have perhaps been ungrateful for our health;
or we have been light, trifling, and worldly;
or we have over-valued the things of time, and practically slighted the things of God;
or we have been hewing out broken cisterns;
or we have been anxious and troubled about many things — to the neglect of the one thing needful
— and sickness is intended to chasten, correct, and cure us! Or it may be sent for instruction. We often learn more during a short illness — than we do in months and years of health. Then we see . . .
the real emptiness of the world,
the vanity of the creature,
the folly of seeking a portion below,
the importance of divine things,
the value of salvation in Jesus,
the blessedness of fellowship with God, and
the necessity of being like servants waiting for the Lord.

Then we . . .
get nearer to our God,
become more detached from the world,
and enjoy divine things with a double relish.

Surely this sickness is sent in love. Does the mother love her child the less, because she sees it necessary to give it bitter medicine? Or, does a father love his son less, because he must chastise him to prevent his ruin? Or, is it unkind to teach a pupil the most valuable and important lessons, even if it requires confinement and difficult study for a time? No! Just so, Jesus send sickness to His people in love and kindness. But when saints are sick — Jesus should be sought; and to Him the application should be made. He is our physician, and He alone can give skill to the earthly physician, or render the means effectual. He is also one of the family — He is, "the brother born for adversity." Now He is especially needed, now He is peculiarly suitable, and now He is willing to visit and bless. He is our best friend, and deeply interested in our everlasting welfare. He requires that we visit Him, inform Him, invite Him to our sick chambers, and strive to profit by the afflictive dispensation. In making application, we should plead with Him on the ground of His love, "He whom you love is sick!" It is important that our state be decided, before sickness comes — also that our walk in health should be consistent and spiritual — that our friends may thus plead for us. The sisters knew that Jesus loved Lazarus, and that Lazarus loved Him. But how many sisters there are, who do love Jesus themselves — but their brothers do not; they cannot go to Jesus for them in sickness, as these sisters did. Oh happy family where sisters and brothers all love Jesus, and are beloved of Him. If sickness visits such a house, with confidence may the other branches apply to the Savior, and love will listen, approve, and act for the benefit of its objects.