Healthy” Idols? : Part 2

“When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt””(Exodus 32:1-2 NIV, Bible App). 

In Post #12, “Healthy” Idols? : Part 1, we discussed how many of us have primarily placed all of our trust and faith for our health in what the world has offered leading to idolatry. We also discussed how, by doing this, we have not only suffered spiritually, but also physically, actually moving away from better overall health and healthy living.

So, if we have discussed how, by placing God first in our health, everything falls into place, then why have we drifted so far from utilizing our limitless God as our primary guidance in health and, instead, solely followed the world’s guidlines? Why did we stop turning to Him as the principal source for our health? I believe the answers to these questions lie in the verses above. It states, “‘As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him’….Moses was so long in coming down the mountain” (Exodus 32: 1, 2 NIV). 

Like the Israelites, we also knew about God’s limitless powers but we became impatient on waiting for it, especially when we couldn’t see it or the person handling it. Growing tired of the uncertainty of when and how the healing would occur, we tried to speed things up, turning to something that we could see and hear and feel. We wanted immediate, somewhat controlled results. We wanted something that provided more clear cut steps and a more detailed path to achieving our desired health outcomes. 

As people who live in a tangible world, it seemed easier to abide by a system that incorporated things that we are able to size up with our senses. We found comfort in being able to view all the details of a process before we jumped in. Essentially, we were trying to manage a deeper issue from a superficial perspective, which is the perspective of what we could SEE and RATIONALIZE. We needed proof with scientific experimentation that something was “true” or “right.”  And, through this tangible proof, we have allowed ourselves to assume the role of healer. Even though we would eventually find out how limited we were in our abilities, never being able to know all God knew about how He created our bodies, it became a need people sought when growing impatient or uncertain trying to wait on an unseen God. An unseen God, in an unseen realm, who does unexplainable things at impossible times. An unseen God who works according to thoughts and ways that are above ours, for “how unsearchable are His judgements and unfathomable His ways” (Romans 11: 34 NIV). We abandoned the Truths of the Bible and the real life stories that proved the amazing healing nature of God, our Jehovah Rapha (the God Who heals) and Great Physician. We began to believe and trust in these human efforts more for our health because they were more calculable and measurable despite the fact that their insufficient knowledge (against that of an all knowing God) led to our further distress and physical unhealthiness. Even though the Israelite’s practice of idolatry was way more obvious, the idolatry we practice, in regards to our worldly health systems, makes it no different.  

I know, for some, this might be difficult to hear. You might be in total disagreement with me. All you may hear me say is that “the health industry or the medical system is bad” and that I am somehow encouraging you to avoid all advice or assistance from our healthcare community. Let me be very clear, this is not at all what I am saying. 

First, I am saying that I truly believe that if something is here in this world then it was ordained by God to be here. So, it is perfect and has a purpose. But, I am saying that unless we place God first in our health, above these other things, then, 1) we won’t know what is the correct personal physical path for us, and, 2) we will continue to praise the wrong thing (PERSON) for our healing. We will start to trust in worldly systems and guidelines over seeking guidance from the One who created it all. And, as we discussed, we will not only fall victim to breaking God’s commandments but we will suffer because we left God out of our health. This is not because we will be punished but quite the contrary. It is because God loves us and “knit us together in our mothers wombs…fearfully and wonderfully made…all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one came to be” (Psalms 139: 13-14, 16 NIV). God designed us in a way that when we live according to Him, His Word, His Spirit, we are healthiest spiritually, and therefore physically! We don’t get punished by God when we walk away from His light. We simply live in the absence of His light, which brings chaos and confusion and, ultimately, destruction. 

He designed it all and, therefore, He knows it all! He knows our beginning, our end, and the whole story written in between! He knows about our bodies, their individual health journeys, and what we personally need to heal more than any human health industry ever will and He is not limited on what He can use! He can and WILL use it all! Everything that He has created in this universe! And, the best part is, He will keep your hearts and minds at peace in the process which, based on the amazing way He created us, further enhance’s your body’s healing! He designed it! He orchestrated it! He has got it under control! So accept and trust in His sovereignty and watch how you heal!

Health is not a one size fits all process. It is a complicated area of life that has requirements so specific to each and every person. Knowing this, do you think there is any coincidence why we have so many different ways to tackle so many different health issues!!! Of course not! God created every one of them to meet the needs of every one of us! Every individual person deals with unique health issues that link to the specific path and purpose God has ordained for his/her life. He knows why we are in a particular health predicament down to the very core. God knows exactly what we need to heal and heal completely not just for our bodies but for our lives. However, God also knows that if we continue to rely primarily on our worldly health systems, our bodies (and lives) will ultimately be affected by its insufficiency. 

Therefore, no matter how long we have to wait, we must not become impatient like the Israelites and place our trust in the finite abilities of a worldly system over the infinite powers of God. For, when we turn to God, even though the journey may sometimes seem uncertain, we will find peace while awaiting God’s perfect path and timing for our healing. A peace that, in and of itself, is beneficial to our health! No matter how long the wait, when we “take delight in the Lord,…He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37: 4 NIV). We can trust we are on the right path of our health voyage if God is the one steering the ship always positioned at the helm! 

So, let’s worship the only One who heals and place God FIRST, not only in our lives but in our health, letting God establish our steps (Proverbs 16:9 NIV)! For, as long as we “seek First the kingdom and His righteousness” (for your health) …”all these things (in your health and life) will be given to you” (Matthew 6: 33 NIV)! HE CAN DO IT! BELIEVE IN HIS LOVE AND HIS HEALING, RESSURECTION POWER! God is blessing you!