Understanding Diseases of the Human Body and Spirit

The “Why Me?” Question Everyone who receives a diagnosis of a serious illness would ask, “Why me?” The question is raised from a deep feeling of injustice in one’s own misfortune, especially while other apparently less worthy persons enjoy good health and longevity. Despite its immense advances, empirical biomedical science can only explain the causes and the development of the disease and how it may be managed according to the current state of knowledge, but it cannot answer why the disease occurs specifically in that particular person at that particular point in time. A patient may justifiably point to the fact that many other people are under the influence of the same disease-causing factors, maybe even to a greater extent, but those individuals do not have the disease. Identical twins living together under the same conditions may not develop the same disease simultaneously. Science cannot explain why cancer usually develops in only one of the paired organs (such as breasts, lungs, and kidneys) when both organs have identical genetic compositions and are exposed to identical carcinogenic factors for the same lengths of time. There is a limit to medical science and its answers. The book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament repeatedly emphasizes that the finite human mind simply cannot figure out answers to many why questions in life. “No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it” (Ecclesiastes 8:17). As Christian ethicist Scott Rae puts it, “We cannot make sense of the details of life and cannot comprehend how they constitute a coherent whole under the sovereignty of God.” (Rae 2006, 155) Whenever misfortune strikes, one naturally tends to focus upon him or herself and gets increasingly entrapped in the dead-end road of asking why. The person may be better served if he or she steps back a bit and takes a broader, more objective view of one’s situation. As indicated in chapter 8, when one encounters illness, the question “Why not me?” may be closer to reality than “Why me?” Considering the great numbers of diseases that can afflict any person, it is indeed amazing that an individual manages to live most days of his or her life in health. Staying healthy is not a given, and it should be considered as one of the most wonderful gifts from God. The Question from a Biblical Perspective Most religions teach that if one lives a morally good life and observes certain religious rituals and practices (such as worship, prayers, and charitable works), one will be blessed with health, happiness, success, and good fortune. The message of the Bible is quite different. It is about God’s work of salvation through Jesus Christ restoring sinful humanity to a loving relationship with Him for all eternity. In this context, health, happiness, success, and good fortune in an individual’s fleeting time on earth is not the central message, but the person’s salvation and sanctification according to God’s will is. From a biblical perspective, the occurrence and severity of illness in an individual is not commensurate with the individual’s amount and severity of sins. That good guys suffer illnesses and adversities while bad guys enjoy health and prosperity is a prominent theme of lament in Psalms and the Wisdom Literature. A classic example occurs in Psalm 73. The psalmist lamented, I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to men; they are not plaqued by human ills … This is what the wicked is like – always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hand in innocence. All day long I have been plaqued; I have been punished every morning. (Psalm 73:2–5, 12–14) The psalmist seems to conclude that it is useless to keep oneself away from sin. Yet this is the same psalm in which the most precious words that have healed and nourished the souls of countless believers down the ages are crystallized. “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:25–26). The psalmist steps back to consider the ultimate question of his relationship with God. He recognizes that while he cannot comprehend the intricate workings that determine his circumstances, God is the only reality worthy of his pursuit, obedience, and worship. God’s ever-presence, His comforting and uplifting words, and His provision of inner strength are sufficient despite illnesses or other adversities. One experiences God through illness as much as—and often more than—in health. Therefore, the answer to the “Why me?” question lies not in pathology or theology. Offering up-to-date knowledge of pathogenesis of disease or explaining disease as a consequence of humanity’s sins cannot provide comfort to a suffering patient, and often this raises more questions. The answer is faith in God’s Word, which affirms that He always loves us, always has our best interest for all eternity at heart, and is in full control of everything that happens to us. Even in the worst of circumstances, Jesus is our Good Shepherd, who is ready to (and actually did) lay down His life so that we could have life and have it to the fullest (John 10:10). The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk, after arguing with God about His seemingly unjust dealings with His people in leaving them destitute, confessed in faith, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stall, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17–18). The much afflicted apostle Paul boldly proclaimed, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:31–32, 35) Second Corinthians 4:16–18 says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Finally, for any believer who thinks he or she suffers unfairly, please turn your eyes to Jesus. He is the Son of God and needs not suffer at all, yet for our sake He underwent the most horrible sufferings that no other human has ever endured. At the cross He was rejected and crushed not only by men but by His Father in order to bear our sins. The prophet Isaiah foretold it all. “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering … he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities … and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth, he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:3, 5, 6–8)