As a Christian, how can I help my sister who is in the advanced stages of cancer?
A grass root church pastor, Pastor Liang, gave Christians the following instruction on what they can do to help critically-ill patients:
First, faith is not necessarily against rationality.
True faith goes beyond reason and leads the reason; but, it does not contradict it.
Pastor Liang pointed out that the Christian faith is "a reasonable faith" and the truthfulness of the notion of "justification by faith" can be constantly verified and stand the most difficult test.
Second, Knowing the "three-goodness" of God in Christ strengthens our faith.
God has "three goodness": His nature and intention, His time and what He gives us. Similarly, in our disease, the good God gives us the best. If it is best to cure us of our illness, God will do it, because nothing is impossible for God, who can raise the dead to life. If God does not cure us, that means that curing us is not the best option and that God has a better plan for us.
Although people may think that recovery from illness is the best, God is wiser than we are. If the three-good God does not heal us, it does not mean that recovery from illness is bad; but, it means that God has a greater blessing for us.
Believers must keep in mind that when God does not heal some people, it does not mean that God is still angry with them; but, He has a better plan! In any case, God's intention is good, which brings comfort and peace for us Christians in suffering and sickness.
Third, the disease is not a punishment, but God's messenger to us.
Christians, with the Gospel, have changed their relationship to all things. For example, death was originally frightening; but for Christians, it became a door of honor connecting them with eternal life, eternal light, victory, resurrection, holiness, heaven and endless blessings - that is the Gospel's comfort to us.
Because of the victory of Christ, a disease is no longer a terrible threat for us. Although we may undergo physical and mental discomfort, it has become a messenger of God to remind us that our day to see the Lord is near.
Even when sickness happens to the young and strong Christians who recover their strength shortly after, it is also a reminder to us that this world is not our home, and that the decaying body is not the everlasting home to our regenerated noble soul. God has prepared for us heaven, which is more beautiful and our resurrected body more glorious!
Four, God no longer condemns those in Christ, so we reject Satan's accusation.
Some people think that sick Christians have not been cured because they have not confessed enough of their sins to God. We do not need to accept this condemnation and accusation because our sins have been dealt with completely on the cross at Calvary. "Who will bring any charge against those God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died ----more than that, who was raised to life---is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." (Romans 8:33-34)
Do not let the false deductions of ignorant people add extra burdens on the sick. Preach the gospel of forgiveness to them more firmly to strengthen their faith so that Satan, who is attacking us, may flee away in the face of the Gospel.
We should preach the Gospel of grace and forgiveness to the sick because it will greatly comfort their hearts, give them hope and peace in mind, and even benefit their body.
So let us preach the Gospel more to the sick and give them hope, so that they may see the hope of eternal life, the glory of heaven resurrection and receive great comfort!
In addition, Christians should guide the patient's relatives in gentleness and wisdom, so that more people may accept the Gospel.
Translated by Alvin Zhou
