Where Does Sickness Come From? More Questions about Healing

Questions about healing are some of the most common inquiries we receive at Terradez Ministries. Continuing with our previous article Can God Heal Me? and Other Questions about Healing, this article addresses even more frequently asked questions, starting with “Where does sickness come from?”

Where Does Sickness Come From?

To answer this question, we need to go back to the very beginning of creation. When God created Earth and every living thing, He gave all responsibility for creation to Adam and Eve. He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Genesis 1:26).

God gave humanity the responsibility for and authority over the entire planet, over all of creation. At that time, there was no sickness, no disease. In fact, there was no death at all! Even the animals didn’t prey upon one another.

However, when Adam and Eve believed the word of the serpent over the Word of God, they gave authority over the earth to the devil. In that moment, they opened the door to sin, strife, disease, anger and death. From that moment, the earth became “fallen.” It was no longer a perfect, sinless place, free from sickness and death.

Therefore, today sickness comes sometimes just because we live in a fallen creation. Sickness, disease, birth defects all occur because of the original fall of man and corruption of creation. Sometimes sickness may come as a direct attack from the enemy who is constantly trying to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Just as important is the truth that sickness does not come from God. He does not use illness, disease, or accidents to teach us or punish us.

The Good News is that Jesus came to redeem us from every curse, to restore our authority, and provide righteousness, healing, and prosperity to His people once again!

For more details regarding the answer to this question, you can request a free copy of our booklet Your Life with God.

Can I Still Be Healed If I Sin?

You might also wonder “Do you have to be saved to be healed?” Let’s address these two questions with a third question: Did Jesus only heal sinless or saved people? No. When Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38), none of those people had received Jesus as their Lord. They couldn’t because Jesus hadn’t died yet!

Therefore, everyone Jesus healed in the Gospels was both unsaved and in a sinful condition.

The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). However, Jesus never told anyone, “Oops, so sorry, I can’t heal you, yet. You’re gonna need to go clean up your act and stay sinless for a week before I can heal you. There’s just too much sin going on up in here!” Everyone who came to Jesus for healing would be considered “a sinner.” In fact, some were even demon possessed! Yet Jesus always healed them.

If someone is unsaved, or even if a Christian is living a sinful lifestyle, they are still qualified to receive healing. It has nothing to do with who they are or what they have done. Jesus has already provided everything necessary for our healing on the cross! 1 Peter 2:24 says that Jesus, “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” 

Sin doesn’t keep us from receiving salvation, so it can’t keep us from receiving healing, either! In fact, Jesus provides both righteousness and healing to all who come to Him and believe.

What Is the Difference between Healing and Divine Health?

There are different aspects of healing. First of all, anyone can receive a miraculous healing from God, whether they are born-again believers or not. Jesus healed in this way, by the miracle-working power of God, throughout His earthly ministry. However, there is another type of “healing” that many segments of Christianity don’t talk about: divine health. Walking in divine health is a benefit of our everyday relationship with God as born-again believers.

Whereas you do not need to be born again to receive miraculous healing from God, you must be if you want to walk in divine health.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

– Romans 8:11

When you are born-again, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of you! Wow! When we believe this profound truth, the very life and power of Jesus gives life, energy, and strength to our bodies. This release of power continues beyond once-in-a-while. It can happen every minute of every day, if you believe it.

Psalm 91:10 gives us another glimpse into what it means to walk in divine health when it says, “No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.” As a born-again believer, you can reach a place where—even when the enemy tries to make you sick—illness just can’t touch you! You can be a “germ graveyard.” Many times believers are walking in this divine health, under God’s protection, and don’t even realize the sicknesses they have escaped because of their relationship with Jesus.

However, it is important for us to remember that when believers do get sick, there is no condemnation! There is an enemy who wants us to be sick, but we have the authority and faith to be healed!

Remember the Truth

If you’re wrestling with questions about healing like “Where does sickness come from?” remember above all that our God is a good God. It’s okay to have questions and to wonder how it all works. But always know that He is good and only good things come from Him. He paid dearly for your healing when He gave Jesus. God wants you well, whole and healthy.

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