The short answer to this question is that it is not yet time for sickness and suffering to end.
God has set a time to make things right. Ecclesiastes 3:11: He has made everything beautiful in his time.“ He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Man is given a sense of future and a longing for eternal blessing, but its beyond man’s ability to comprehend what that will be and how it will be accomplished.
In the plan of God, suffering and death are temporary, but there are important functions and lessons to sickness and suffering, and the end result is an amazing opportunity for ALL to be blessed.
All our human family born in Adam experiences sickness and suffering as part of the death sentence passed on by Adam’s sin. 1 Corinthians 15:21: By a man (Adam) came death…. 1 Corinthians 15:22: As in Adam all die…” Romans 8:22: For we know the whole creation (all born in Adam) groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
The suffering and death of Jesus makes possible a resurrection for all, and eventually the blessing of all people. God’s son Jesus was not at all spared the pain and cruelty of sin. He willingly offered to die as the ransom price to satisfy justice for Adam’s sin and all of mankind’s sin as we are Adam’s progeny. 1 Timothy 2:3-6: For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for ALL…
1 Corinthians 15:21-22: By a man came death; by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
Philippians 2:8,9: …he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.Therefore also God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
True followers of Christ are also called to suffer in preparation for reigning with Christ for the purpose of blessing of all people people ever born to this earth. This preparation takes place by a process of ‘suffering with Christ’—a process of surrendering to the will of God as Jesus did, regardless of the cost. 2 Timothy 2:12: If we suffer with him, we shall reign with him.
The suffering of faithful Christians leads to this privilege of blessing all people, the whole creation. Romans 8:18-19: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. Romans 8:21: …the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
While it may be difficult to grasp right now, there will be a day when humanity will not be sick, and no one will be allowed to harm anyone, and all will have the opportunity for a loving relationship with their Creator.
The end result of the reign of Christ and the faithful Christians will be the full restoration of humanity to human perfection and the headship of Christ.
Ephesians 1:10: And this is in harmony with God’s merciful purpose for the government of the world when the times are ripe for it—the purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one head in Christ: yes, things in heaven and things on earth, to find their one head in him.
Isaiah 51:11 promises, Those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Revelation 21:3: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.
God is like a good parent. Hebrews 12:6 applies to Christians now and in principle to the whole world born in Adam. The Lord disciplines everyone he loves… God loves us all. Just like a good parent, God is loving us by allowing (not causing) a hard experience for all of us as humans. Loving us right now is the cause for Him allowing us to see what it is like to exercise free will without following His righteous ways. Love sometimes means being hands off until the due time to resolve a problem for the purpose of an unforgettable lesson.
There is an unforgettable lesson from all the suffering. The unforgettable lesson of all the suffering since the sin of Adam will be the tragic cost of rebellion against the will and principles of God and Christ, and the wisdom and loyalty to choose to love and obey them for eternity in the kingdom on this earth. Isaiah 9:6-7: For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on his shoulders; and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of his government of peace…
Additional Resources:
Christian Questions Podcast Episode #1277: “Will the World’s Pain and Suffering Ever End?”
Biblically answering the hard questions about humanity’s brokenness
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes
Episode #1344: “Should Christians Expect to Be Healed?”
Comparing today’s faith healers with clear and biblical healing principles
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes
(PDF Booklet) God’s Grand Plan of the Ages
