When Mark called me Friday and
told me that Regina was being airlifted to the hospital with
a heart attack, I was on my way to preach. And immediately I
began to think of what we read in John Chapter 11 this morning.
May God give me some wisdom and grace as I try to preach to you
on this subject, the one you love is sick. John chapter 11,
verse 1. Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus of Bethany. the town of Mary and her sister
Martha. It was that Mary, that dear beloved
Mary, that Mary out of whom the Lord had cast seven devils, that
Mary who alone seemed to understand the details of our Lord's instruction
while he walked on this earth about his coming death and his
resurrection from the dead, that Mary who came to anoint him for
his burial because she understood that he was dying in her room
and in her stead as her substitute. That Mary, which anointed the
Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose
brother Lazarus was sick, therefore his sisters, because their brother
was sick, his sisters sent unto him saying, Lord, behold, He
whom thou lovest is sick. Understand this and understand
it clearly. Understand it now and understand
it when you need it. Those who are dearly loved of
God. Those who are dearly loved of
God frequently endure sickness of body, Sickness, a body that
causes weakness and pain and frustration. Sickness, a body
that finally ends in the death of this body. Those who are dearly
loved of God are not exempt from any trial that anyone else has
in this world. Not exempt from any. You're just
as likely to have trouble with your children as your neighbor,
maybe more so. You're just as likely to have
difficulty with your husband or wife as your neighbor, maybe
more so. You're just as likely to have
financial woes as your neighbor, maybe more so. You see, your
heavenly father cares for you. He cares for you. Your neighbor
for whom he does not care, he only uses for your benefit. He cares for you. I have just
one child. I have on occasion paddled other
children when they were trusted to my care. to my protection
and to my discipline. And folks understood, don't leave
them at my house overnight if you don't expect them to mind
me, because they're going to mind me. You might let them run
around like wild Indians, but they're going to mind me if they
stay at my house. And I have on occasion paddled others. I
have a niece. To this day, she's, how old is
she, 40 years old? And one time, one time in camp,
I told her to do something. She looked at me like, well,
who are you to tell me to do that? Went on about her business. And I
picked up her hand and popped her. Twenty years later, she
said to one of the children, he'll spank you. He'll spank you. But the fact
is, neighbor's kids, other folks in school, They get misbehaving. I see them out on the streets
doing stuff. I didn't say anything to them. I didn't say anything
to them. There was a day when you could. Neighbors wanted you
to, but not anymore. Those aren't my children. Those
aren't my children. I don't expect anything different
from them. And I'd leave them alone as long
as they're not interfering with me and my family. Just leave
them alone. But my child, you're going to
do what I say. And I'm going to make you do
it. because I care. Those who are dearly loved of
God are not exempt from any trial, any heartache, or any pain that
anyone else is called upon to endure. The fact is, our Heavenly
Father brings these things upon us for a purpose. It's so important
for us to prepare ourselves for those times when trouble comes,
for the heartaches and difficulties that lie before us in God's providence,
to prepare ourselves to glorify our God and to help those we
love. I called several folks immediately
after talking to Mark, and the first one I was able to get hold
of was my son-in-law. He took off over to the hospital.
He called me late Friday night. He said, Don, Mark has just been
exemplary. He's just been exemplary in the
way he's handled this. And started telling me about
it. God, give me grace. God, give me grace. When trouble
comes, to be exemplary in faith and in confidence. My reason
for instructing you about these things before they come is to
prepare you for the day when they come. And it's my desire
that God will use this for that purpose. You're familiar with
this family, Bethany, Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus. These
three people. Oh, what a blessed family. What
a blessed family. I. I was talking to an old man
in England when I was there with Sid Buggins. And he's telling
about his father and his mother and his grandfather and his grandmother
and his aunts and his uncles and his brothers and his sisters
and his sons and his daughters and his grandchildren, all of
whom in the kingdom of God. And I listened to him talk with
admiration. And I said, Sid, you do understand what a rare,
blessed privilege you have. There are few families where
a few of us are in the kingdom of God. Very few families where
most are. Here is this man and his two
sisters. As far as we know, the whole
family yet living on this earth, all three of them were loved
of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ, called and chosen
of God, experienced God's grace, saved by his matchless mercy.
All three of them believers. All three of them people to whom
God had given the revelation of His grace. All three people
to whom God had come in mercy. And now here is Lazarus, sick
and dying. These three people lived by faith.
They earnestly sought the will and the honor and the glory of
God. They were saved, man and woman, and two women. They saw
the glory of Christ, they trusted Christ, they worshiped Christ
in a day when few people did. They understood the revelation
of Christ in a day when few people did. But Lazarus is now very,
very sick. And Mary and Martha knew that
the Lord loved Lazarus. He's sick, but that doesn't change
anything, Merle. He's still the object of the Lord's love. He's
sick. That doesn't change anything.
They're still loved of the Lord. And they understood that. So
they wrote a message out and sent it to the master. And this
is what they said. He whom thou lovest is sick. They didn't attempt to tell him
anything. They didn't say, let's get together and have a prayer
meeting and see if we can't all scream and cry and get ahold
of God's arm, twist it behind his back and force him to do
what we want him to do. No, Lord, he whom thou lovest
is sick. Now, you know what we want. You know our desire, you know
how our hearts are aching. You know how much we need Lazarus. You know how much Lazarus means
to us. You know all these things. Lord,
he whom thou lovest is sick. The Lord loved Lazarus, and yet
Lazarus was sick. It's evident then the sickness
is no indication of God's displeasure. Trouble is no indication of God's
anger. Trials and adversity are not
indications that somehow God has disapproved of you or disapproves
of something you're doing. It's not an indication of that
at all. Lazarus is that one who is the object of the Savior's
love, but he's sick. He's sick and he's dying. These
dear ladies simply informed the Lord Jesus of their trouble.
And they didn't ask him for anything. Now it's obvious they expected
some things. It's obvious what they wanted or they wouldn't
have gone to the Lord with it. But they didn't ask him for anything.
But rather with the composure that only
faith can give. Composure that only God-given
faith can give. with composure that only confidence
in God's goodness can give. They were resigned to his will
and submissive to his purpose. You remember when Eli got news
that the Lord was going to kill his two sons because of their
rebellion. and kill his two sons who were
rebels because Eli refused to restrain them. Eli, being the
believer that he was, said, it is the Lord. Let him do what
seemeth him good. Martha and Mary seemed to write
this message to the Lord Jesus and say, it is the Lord. Let him do what seemeth him good. Knowing Christ's love and power,
They knew that if he would, he could raise Lazarus up. They
knew that if he would, he could do whatever he pleased. And they knew that what he did
would be best. They didn't say, Lord, he whom
we love is sick. They didn't say, Lord, he who
loves you is sick. They said, Lord, he whom thou
lovest is sick. And you know how the story turned
out. Lazarus died. But in the death of Lazarus,
the love and grace and power of Christ were displayed as they
could not have been otherwise. And Martha and Mary were made
to see the glory of God in the resurrection of Lazarus, which
they could not have seen otherwise. With those things in mind, Let
me try to answer three or four questions. Why does sickness
come? Why does it come? Why do we have
to go through these things? Why are these things necessary? What's the root behind them?
What's what's the root cause of it? How do you answer a little
child's question, daddy? Why do people get sick and die? If God's good, and he is. If God's in charge, and he is.
If God could prevent it, and he could. If God does this, and
he's good, why do people get sick and die? Let me give you
the one answer and the only answer that can be given. Sickness and
death. come because of sin. Sickness and death come because
of sin. Wherefore, as by one man sin
entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon
all men, for that all have sinned. We're sinners. That means we've
got to get sick. We're sinners. That means we've
got to die. We're sinners, and death is the
result of sin. Sickness is the result of sin.
One of the greatest evidences and demonstrations of the fact
of man's universal depravity, of the original sin of all men,
that is to say that all men and women are born sinners, is the
fact that babies, little children, get sick and die. often lead this congregation
in prayer when we've been made aware of some sickness, whether
it's a young child or an old man. God, thank you for a reminder
again of the brevity of life. You take that little baby, that
newborn child, and you cuddle it in your arms while it's burning
up with fever and understand the child is born in sin. and
understand that the child soon must die, and you soon must die,
and meet God in judgment. Sickness is the result of sin. Why do those whose sins are forgiven
though, those who are loved of God, those who are redeemed by
the blood of Christ, those who trust the Son of God, why do
they get sick? Of this much we're sure, God
could prevent it. God could prevent it. Now, most
of the troubles and heartaches and pains that people have, I
know very little about. Most of the social troubles and
social difficulties a man 58 years old has, excuse me, 59
years old, I don't know much about that. I know a little bit
about sickness. I know a little bit about suddenly
being stricken with weakness and anticipating death. Why? When God and my father could
prevent it. I recall many years ago when I was going through
chemotherapy treatments. And if you haven't had real good
chemotherapy treatments, you don't have any idea what it's
like to hug a commode all the time, just sick all the time. I'd wake up in the mornings and
just sick and sick all day long. And I'd turn on the radio and
try to find something to listen to. And that fool down in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana, I meant to say fool and I meant to say Baton
Rouge. Mr. Swaggart was on radio and he
said, it's not God's will for you to be sick. If he'd been
standing in front of me, I believe I could have mustered the strength
to knock him down. If it's not God's will for me
to be sick, I wouldn't be sick. And if it's not God's will for
you to be sick, you wouldn't be sick. Why does sickness come
then? Obviously, because our Heavenly
Father deems it best and wisest. We know that all things are done
according to God's will, done by God's hand, and done according
to God's good purpose of grace. Now mark this down and remember
it. Often, very often, those who
are loved of God are afflicted with sicknesses and diseases
and pains that cause other people to question whether they're loved
of God. Remember a man named Job? Now, we understand the fellow,
he can have trouble and still be one of God's. He can have
trouble and still be a true believer. He can have trouble and still
trust the Lord Jesus, but not that much trouble. Not that many
difficulties. Man, Job, what have you done? Why would God do this to you? Job was one who feared God and
discussed evil because God loved him. And the reason he lost his
children and lost his wealth and lost his health is because
God loved him. And he wouldn't let Job's heart
be drawn to anything but him. He wouldn't let anything have
Job but him. And so he weaned Job of all those
things to which men naturally are married. Yes, our heavenly
father has a good purpose in bringing his children down on
the bed of affliction, adversity, and sickness. Let me show you
a few. By these things, he tries and
proves the sincerity of our love for and faith in him. Not so that he will know it. So we will. So we will. I think often of our dear brother
Peter. Oh, what a sickness he had. A sickness by which he denied
the master three times. And Peter, when he heard that
cock crow in the morning the second time, oh, he thought in
his soul. I've been a sham. I've been a
fake. I'm going back to fishing. This
is all been a fake. Going back where I was. And when
the master rose from the dead, he sent an angel to tell two
women, go tell my disciples. I'll meet them where I said I
would. And be sure you tell Peter. I'll meet him at Galilee, just
like I said I would. Be sure you tell Peter." And they met
Peter down there. And they asked him twice, Simon, lovest thou
me more than these? And Peter answered and said,
yes, Lord, I do. But the word for love was a very
common word. You're familiar with the word,
it's agape, a word that's commonly used for love. It's a word that
folks throw around all the time. You hear politicians talk about
it. We love you. We went over to
Audre Gracie's fifth-grade graduation the other day, and I bet the
principal of that school used the words, we love you, 50 times
if she used them once. We love you. And no doubt in
a sense, said so. Don't hardly know who you are.
I might recognize you if you walked down the hallway and hollered
my name, but I love you. That's the kind of word that
word agape is. And then the Lord used another
word. He said, Simon, lovest thou me more than these? And
the word that he used was a totally different word. It's the word
that's used in the name of the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia
is called Philadelphia. It's named the city of brotherly
love. The word phileo, Peter heard
the master say. And he was pricked in his heart.
He was pricked in his heart. Because the master said the third
time, Simon son of Jonas, let's get right down to where the rubber
meets the road. Do you really love me? Are you committed to me? Is your heart mine? That's what
it is to love me. My heart belongs to you. I love
that lady. Love her. And Simon, he said,
Lord, you know all things. You know. And now I'm forced to acknowledge
what I couldn't acknowledge if you didn't force me to. You know
that I My heart is yours. John might
not know it, and Jane might not know it, and my friends might
not know it, but you know it, and now I know it. Sickness has
a way of humbling us, mellowing our hearts, teaching us patience,
improving our faith through pain, and sickness, trial,
Christ often becomes more precious than he could otherwise be. And
sometimes he makes one of his children sick for the benefit
of another. Lazarus was sick and Lazarus
was dying, but the whole thing was not for Lazarus' sake. The
whole thing was for Martha and Mary. The whole thing was for
you and me. Lazarus was better off. But the
Lord said, I'm glad for your sakes. I wasn't there speaking
to his disciples. I'm glad for your sakes. Much
of what God does in the adversities of one man, he does for the benefit
of many men. I've seen some of you go through
trials, difficulties, and heartaches. And by your behavior in the midst
of them, oh, I can't tell you what I've learned. Learned of God's grace and God's
mercy and a believer's faith, a believer's confidence, a believer's
peace that only God can give. Whatever his purpose is, the
sickness is always for the glory of God. Look at this in verse
four. When Jesus heard that, he said, this sickness is not
unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may
be glorified thereby. When they got to the grave, to
the tomb, the Lord Jesus said to Martha, said I not unto thee,
verse 40, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the
glory of God. This is for the glory of God.
Hear me, children of God. This is for the glory of God.
What? Whatever it is. that brings you
to your knees, it's for God's glory. Whatever it is that causes
you to cry out to Him, it's for God's glory. Whatever it is that
casts you on Him, it's for His glory. All right, here's the
second thing. What comfort can we find in times
of sickness? It's a great comfort to have
loving friends who manifest their love and their care in so many
ways. I think I've told you this before.
When I'm sick, some folks might want to be alone. Not me. Not
me. I want you there. I want you
there. Just badger me to death. I might be rude, but I want you
there. I need a hand to hold. I need to feel somebody wiping
my feverish brow. I need somebody sitting beside
me talking to me. Why? Friends are help. Families
help. It's great to have folks there,
but I need something more than the best of friends. I need him who has my heart. I need him who has my heart. Let's see if I can illustrate
for you what I'm saying. sickness I was in during last
year, in the midst of all the mental, emotional, spiritual
difficulties, all of it, when I couldn't speak a word, and
I'd look over and see that lady sitting there. That's just what I needed. And when at last, I can lift
my heart and see my Savior there. We must have Him. And Him we
have, whether we see Him or don't. Look at Matthew chapter 8. Verse 14. When Jesus was coming to Peter's
house, he saw his wife's mother laid sick, laid and sick with
a fever. I don't know whether his wife's
mother was a believer or not. I don't have any idea. But she was Peter's
mother-in-law. And he touched her hand and the
fever left her. And she arose and ministered
to them, served them. When the evening was come, they
brought into him many that were possessed with devils. He just
touched that woman's head. Maybe he'll do that for me. He
touched her head. Fever was gone. Maybe he'll do
that. Man, I got a brother that's been sick for a long time. Maybe
he'll touch his head. They brought many that were possessed
with devils, and he cast out the spirits with his word and
healed all that were sick. All that were sick. He still
does, you know. He still heals every sin-sick
sinner there is. There's no such thing as a sinner
he doesn't heal. Find me a sinner, I'll find you
one who's redeemed by the blood of Christ, chosen of God, loved
of God from eternity, and God's gonna save him. Find me a sinner.
But Brother Dodd, don't you know everybody's sinners? Go ask them. Go ask them. Now, there are not
many sinners. If there's a sinner here, I'm
telling you, God'll save you by his grace. He healed all that
were sick. He still does. Now look at verse
17, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by Isaiah, the
prophet saying himself took our infirmities and bear our sicknesses. Our Lord Jesus really is touched
with the feeling of our infirmities. I can't begin to prove this to
somebody who needs proving or who needs to be proved to them.
But for your sake who know what this book declares concerning
our Redeemer. He's touched with the feeling
of our infirmities for he was tempted in all points like as
we are yet without sin. How can that be? Larry Brown
There's not a painful passion in your soul. And there's not
a painful ache in your body that the Son of God doesn't know by
personal experience. Somehow when he was made sin
for us, He was made to endure all the consequences of sin all
at once in his body as he hung on the tree. His mouth parched,
his body burning with fever, aches in every joint, aches in
every bone, aches in every vein, aches through his body. And now
he who sits in human flesh on the throne of glory, God incarnate,
our mighty high priest, is still touched with the feeling of our
infirmities. Listen to how Paul reasons with
this. Hebrews chapter 4. Hebrews chapter 4. Our Lord Jesus here urges us
by the apostle to come to him and rest. In verse 11, let us
therefore, let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, that
blessed rest of faith in Christ, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief. Now, listen to how he argues.
Let's rest. Let's let's labor to rest. Let's
let's labor to lay down our burden. Let's labor to quit fighting.
Let's labor to quit kicking against the bricks. For the word of God
is quick. and powerful, and sharper than
any two-edged sword, piercing even through the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit into the joints and marrow, and is a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Now, that's not talking
about this book. That's not talking about this
book. How do you know? Look at verse 13. Neither is
there any creature that's not manifest in his sight. That's talking about the Word
who is our Savior. the Son of God who is the Word
of God. But all things are naked and
open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then,
seeing then. Now remember he said let's labor
to enter into his rest. He sees everything. He knows
everything. He discerns everything. He divides
everything. Seeing then that we have a great
high priest who is passed into heavens. Jesus, the son of God,
let us hold fast our profession. Let's rest. For we have not an
high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Oh, Thank you, blessed Savior. Thank you. Touched with the feeling
of my weakness. Touched with the feeling of that
that touches me. Touched with the feeling of our
infirmities. But was in all points tempted, like as we are, yet
without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly. Come with confidence. Come, speaking freely. Come, come, pouring open your
heart. Come, come, pouring out your
soul. Come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time
of need. Besides that, he who is able
to comfort and help us assures us of his presence in the midst
of our deepest distresses. When the disciples were out at
sea in the dark of night, and the sea was raging, a terrible
storm, a storm most likely like they had never seen. And they
were experienced seamen. They had been on that sea many
times at night in many a storm, but none like this. They were
rowing hard and proceeded nowhere. And they were terrified, terrified. And then they saw something on
the water. And they thought it was a ghost. They thought it was a ghost.
Next time somebody tells you God's people didn't ever find
them superstitious, take them to that passage. They thought
it was a ghost. When men are scared, they're
not liable to think anything. When men are scared, they're not liable
to say anything. These fellows are terrified. They saw something walking across
the water and thought it was a ghost. And it got a little
closer, and they still hadn't figured out who he was. And the
master said, it is I. Be not afraid. I'm the one who sent you out
here. I'm the one who raised the storm. I'm the one who controls
the waves. I'm the one who sends the lightning
bolt. I'm the one who calls the fear. And I will deliver you,
it is I. Be not afraid. His word is, thus saith the Lord that created
thee, O Jacob. And he that formed thee, O Israel,
fear not, for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy
name, thou art mine. When thou passest through the
waters, I will be with thee. And through the rivers, they
shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the
fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle
upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the
Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. Turn to Psalm 41. Let me show
you something. Psalm 41. Forgive me for making personal
references. If it seems inappropriate, I
apologize. But I'm confident that I'm confident. Ron, as your pastor,
most of what I experience in life, what is for my benefit,
I experience it so I'll have something to preach to you, so
I can help you through difficulties. Psalm 41, verse 3. I'd read the
Psalm many times like you. I'd read it so many times. And,
uh, 33 years ago, I laid on my bed and I'd been laid on my bed
a long time. And I was tired of laying on
that bed. I don't think I ever got any
bed sores physically, but man was that bed sore. It was just
sore. I was tired laying on that bed.
And I came to Psalm 41. And I got to verse 3 that morning.
The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of his languishing. Thou will make his bed in his
sickness. Do you know what had happened
to me that morning just before I read that Psalm? Back in those
days, they used to have nurses' aides and orderlies in hospitals. And two or three nurses' aides
would come into my room because I couldn't turn over on the bed
by myself. And they had somehow or another managed to pick me
up, two or three women, and they weren't all as big as I am. Two
or three average-sized gals, and they had managed to pick
me up, turn me in my bed, Take the sheets out, put on clean,
fresh sheets, and cover me up and make me comfortable in that
bed. That's the word he's talking about right there. Thou wilt
turn him in his sickness bed. Thou wilt make his bed of sickness
easy for him. And we have this comfort too.
Our Lord said concerning Lazarus, this sickness is not unto death. And whatever my sickness is,
it's not unto death. Well, Brother Don, you know you're
going to die. No, I'm not. No, I'm not. I'm not going to die. Look at
verse 25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the
life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall
he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die. Do you believe this? I'm not
going to die. Those who are dead cannot die
again. Did you get that? Well, that's
not so profound. Oh, it's a lot more profound
than you think. Those who are dead cannot die again. I died with Christ. I can't die again. I was crucified
with Christ. I can't die again. The only possible
thing can happen is that I would be raised from the dead. and
I've been raised from the dead to die no more. I was raised
from the dead when Christ Jesus rose up from the dead. I have
been raised from the dead being quickened together with Christ
in the new birth so that now I live, yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me. And though this body must go
to the earth and this body must die, this body is no more me
than this suit of clothes is me. Can you get all of that? I've had this suit a while. I
picked it up at a outlet store out in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Someone's going to be embarrassed. Look at this. 50 bucks. Oh boy, that's a good
looking suit. It ain't much. Oh man, I love
that suit. I hope not. I hope you love me.
This suit's not me. It's not me. And when it wears
out, should it fall off of me and threads right now, it's not
me. It's just a suit I'm wearing
for a little while. It's not me. It's just a tent, a suit I've
been wearing for 59 years. And when it falls off, don't
worry about it. It's supposed to. That's what
you do with tents that wear out. That's what you do with clothes
that wear out. You just fold them up and give
them to Goodwill, somebody else who needs them. I don't need
it anymore. And I pity the person who does.
By the time I get done with it, if you want it, you're in bad
shape. But that's the way with this body. It's going to the
dust. And when it does, it will be
sown a corruptible body. It will be sown a mortal body. It will be sown in the earth,
just like that seed that was sown up there in the garden a
few weeks ago. It'll be sown in the earth. for the purpose
of rotting and dying and reviving and living like it could not
have lived otherwise. So they'd be raised up an immortal
body, a celestial body, a heavenly body, a spiritual body forever
in glory with the Lord. What are the benefits then of
these things to God's people? Well, they force us to pray, don't
they, Mary? You can't, and you won't, and
I guess maybe you shouldn't. Pour out your heart to your friends. Women will a little bit more
than men most of the time. I just can't. Just can't. I can't
put into words before another human being things I want to
say. I just can't do it. Can't bring
myself to. And if I try, I wind up blubbering
like a baby. I just can't do it. And you know what? Lindsay, I
can't put into words before God the things I want to say. I just
can't do it. I just can't do it. But he doesn't
hear words. He hears groans. He knows the thoughts of your
heart, the cares, the passions, the pains. Sickness causes us
to pray, and sickness, at least for a time, and little
by little, teaches us something of the vanity of everything here. everything here. You don't have to answer. I'll
ask you a question because I'm talking to these folks out here.
What would you give right now to have Bob back just like he
was a year ago? Oh, my. How can you even ask
such a question? What would I give? Everything
there is. Because nothing else matters.
Nothing else matters. My God, why can't I live like
that all the time? Recognizing the vanity of everything
else. My sickness. We're made aware
that sooner or later, Every earthly tie must be broken and God sweetly,
graciously, little by little, breaks the ties. By sickness,
we're made to see something of the brevity of time. My days are numbered and my night
will soon come when no more work can be done. If I'm going to
do anything for the cause of Christ, for the glory of God,
for the interest of the gospel, for the souls of men, I've got
to do it now. I've got to do it now. By sickness. I made a little more sympathetic
with God's suffering children. Understand a little bit more
what to go through. Understand a little bit more why they sometimes
act like heathen, you know, like I do. Why God's children sometimes
behave like unbelievers, like I do. Why God's children sometimes behave as if they were heathen,
like Job's wife and Shelby's husband. A little more sympathetic, little
less severe and sickness reminds us that Christ is all. Learn to take your cares to the
Lord and cast your cares on him because he really does care for
you. And if God calls your dearest loved ones home, Don't try to
hold them. The reason he calls them home
is because the Savior asked for them. He says, Father, I will,
that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am,
that they may behold my glory. And we ought to learn to live
in the immediate prospect of eternity. Our days will be over. We will
drop this robe of flesh and we'll go home. Said I not unto thee, if thou
wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God. You'll see the glory of his wisdom.
in all that is done, the glory of His goodness in the saving
of His people, the glory of His infinite mercy in His orderly
arrangement and disposition of providence, the glory of His
grace to you and in you, and the glory of His goodness when
He brings you home, sets you before His throne, and wipes away every tear from your eyes. Amen.