If it turns out that we face problems—even after living responsibly and keeping ourselves pure—it means that God truly wills it. Didn’t Job also experience sickness because God allowed it? Didn’t Paul also have a thorn in the flesh? Isn’t there a verse in God’s Word saying that the body can be handed over to Satan so that the soul may be saved? There are people whom God allows to experience physical suffering, yet through it, they repent. It is not impossible for someone struck with a severe illness to truly realize how terrifying it is to be at the edge of death.
We must not twist God’s Word about His promises of protection, using them to say, “Relax, God has promised.” God’s promises in the Old Testament were addressed to the nation of Israel, whose focus was still on material blessings and physical needs. That is why Israel’s material prosperity and worldly glory became the measure of blessing. If they obeyed, they were blessed (physically); if not, they lost that blessing. But for New Testament believers, even obedience does not guarantee wealth—many remain poor, persecuted, and even die tragically.
Yet, God’s Word in Matthew 10:28 says: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” The phrase “body in hell” is truly sobering, because everyone will be resurrected (Daniel 12), but those who do not live in righteousness will be cast into eternal fire.
We must consider the worst possible situations we might face—not only illness or natural disasters—that could even lead to death. But even if we must go through them, God surely has a good plan in it. Even in death, we need not fear. Why? This is the key: because we honour God. A person who honours God will surely be honoured by God.
In the Old Testament, we read many accounts of God’s great and mighty acts, His appearances, and physical manifestations—how He performed spectacular and miraculous deeds before Israel’s eyes. They experienced God’s physical presence: the pillar of cloud, the pillar of fire, the daily provision of their needs. Their clothes and shoes did not wear out for decades—miracles. The Red Sea parted, Jericho’s walls fell—it was not hard to believe in the living God, because He revealed Himself tangibly. Yet even then, not every individual could face God directly—only the high priest could.
In the New Testament era, every believer can have fellowship with God, and their bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit. Yet God no longer reveals Himself physically as in the Old Testament. It is not easy to experience His physical presence, yet many Christians still want the spectacular signs like those of old, and this is where things go wrong. Our faith must not be built on spectacular or outward signs, because Jesus Himself said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” He is present in our lives. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. But God often seems invisible and silent—that is the challenge.
Now, it depends on how willing we are to believe that God is present in our lives truly and to honour Him properly. The truth is, most people do not honor God as they should—ourselves included in the past. But thanks be to Him, over time, we begin to realize how unworthy our attitude toward Him has been. God’s patience is extraordinary. Therefore, we must not waste the opportunity to correct ourselves.