Illness, Disease and Grace

Illness, Disease and Grace

‘AWord From the Pastor’ By Clayton Adams

There is a difference between illness and disease. Illness has been described as the condition of a person who is experiencing a disease. As Carol Tamparo described in her book, Diseases of the Human Body, “It (illness) encompasses the way in which individuals perceive themselves as suffering from a disease. Illness is highly individual and personal.” A disease, on the other hand, is known by its medical classification and distinguishing features. It’s fair to say that for many healthcare professionals, a disease is easier to treat than an illness. Although, the one with an illness may disagree with this.

There are all kinds of predisposing factors that make one or a group of people more or less susceptible to illness or a disease; heredity, age, gender, environment, lifestyle, eating habits and on it goes. For example, African-Americans are much more susceptible to sickle cell anemia than those of European heritage.

Conversely, those of European heritage are more susceptible to cystic fibrosis than those of African heritage.

There are very real differences that make one group of people more susceptible to disease than another group of people. This is simply the nature of being human. However, this is not true in the spiritual realm. Spiritually, God see’s us all the same, sinners who need salvation.

God’s Word (The Holy Bible) states that humanity stands equal at the foot of the cross. Galatians 3:28 states, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”_ And the apostle Paul reiterates this in his letter of Colossians 3:11, we read, “…there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.”

Salvation is for and available to everyone regardless of race, creed, color, ethnicity, age, gender, occupation, sexual preference, habit, temptation or any other man-made distinguishing factor. John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” The very next verse is often skipped, forgotten or otherwise left out of our daily lives. John 3:17 states, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge (condemn) the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

Christ brought grace to a world that is based upon very harsh rules, regulations and laws. Christ brought grace to the woman accused of adultery in John 8:2-11, and after those who brought her to Christ challenged their motives and souls, they left the woman standing alone before Jesus and He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did anyone condemn you? She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, I do not condemn you, either.

Go. From now on sin no more.”

The time for grace is now, Jesus brought grace into this world, He spoke about grace, He gave grace, he taught grace, He died to give grace to every individual.

Now is not the time and this present world is not the place for judgment.

Christ spoke about and taught this too. Friend, so long as you and I breath, we have the ability and opportunity to ask Christ Jesus to forgive our sins and accept His grace in our lives.

When we ask Christ to forgive us, we are to turn away from the sin in our lives. Abusing the grace of Christ comes with consequences, Hebrews 10:26 is very clear on this, “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin.”

Sin is sin, call it what we want in the legal system and give it a grade, misdemeanor or felony, its still sin. We are susceptible to illness and disease but we are more susceptible to sin and we need the grace of Christ.

Human nature being what it is in each of us causes us to see our sin as not as bad as someone else’s sin. But the simple fact is I am guilty of sin and you are too. We are all guilty of sin and if one says he or she has not sinned, 1 John 1:10 states, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Right now is the time for salvation and grace.

Judgment is coming but only after the time of grace has past. I urge you to remember while living in this sin filled world the teaching in Romans 5:20 “But where sin abounds, grace does much more abound.” I need more grace in my life, don’t you?

Clayton Adams is pastor at Earle First Assembly of God. You can e- mail him at cpalaa@ yahoo. com, or find Earle First Assembly on Facebook.