I Will Take Sickness Away from the Midst of You

by Bryan Matthew Dockens

The Almighty told Israel, “So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you” (Exodus 23:25). Although the Old Testament has been done away with, having been replaced by the New Covenant, it remains true that in serving God, the likelihood of contracting certain ailments is significantly reduced.

Those who abide by the divine prohibition against sexual immorality (I Thessalonians 4:3-4), choosing to limit intercourse to marriage (Hebrews 13:4), will almost certainly be spared from sexually transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, syphilis, and HIV.

Christians refrain from the illicit use of drugs because such is illegal (Romans 13:1-2), addictive (Romans 6:16), and specifically forbidden (Galatians 5:19-21) – inasmuch as the word translated "sorcery" is the Greek word for "pharmacy" because drugs were used in the deceptive efforts of ancient sorcery. By abstaining from drugs, diseases like hepatitis and AIDS can be avoided.

The major health risks of alcoholism include liver disease, heart disease, certain cancers, pancreatitis, and nervous system disorders. By taking seriously what God has said about drunkenness (Proverbs 20:1; Romans 13:13; Ephesians 5:18), such risks can be greatly diminished.

Serving God is good for you!