Many of us Aboriginal people believe in healing. Even if you do not believe in Jesus you probably still believe in healing. That is why many Aboriginal people who are not followers of Jesus go through the way of their ancestors for different healings of some sort.
The purpose of this column is not to discuss the different methods people use to obtain healing, but focus on pointing people to see Jesus Christ as their ultimate form of healing. In this life and the one to come.
As a Christian, it's always important to go the Bible for the questions we have in life. Let's see what two spiritual leaders said hundreds of years ago when our Bible ancestors lived.
A man named Matthew said, "When evening came, many who were demon possessed were brought to Him, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases'" (Matthew 8:16-17).
When Jesus heals people physically we should be happy and rejoice but the fact of the matter is that not everyone is healed physically in this lifetime. Yet, God through Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, has His reasons for healing and not healing us physically in this life time. That's why it's important to pray according to God's, the Creator's will, and let the Creator decide what to do. Yet, we can still be rest assured that Jesus is still our healer. Jesus is the Creator and therefore we can trust him.
A man named James said, "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:13-16)
There are plenty of God-fearing people, that all of us have known, who were prayed for but still died of their physical sickness. It's up to God to decide if someone will be physically healed this side of heaven. Yet, Jesus Christ is still our healer and the Aboriginal people out there need to know that. We can't point the finger at people and say, "There is sin in your life and that's why you weren't healed!" We can't point the finger at people and say, "Your faith isn't strong enough!" Jesus decides who will be healed in this life time, but if you are not healed physically that doesn't mean that He isn't your healer or my healer.
Jesus came to heal us physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally, and all that was accomplished on the cross when He died and then rose again three days later.
Do you think that the people who came to Jesus had perfect faith or that their lives were completely free from sin? Yes, we are to desire to have strong faith and to keep our lives free from sin, but our healing is dependent on the Father's will-not ours.
When our brother James talks about healing he does talk about faith making the sick person well, but he also talks about being raised up and about being forgiven. If you come to God in faith through Jesus Christ, you will be made well but it doesn't say how you will be made well. This being made well, is all part of the physical, spiritual, mental and emotional realm of being a believer in Jesus.
Regardless of how our physical healing takes place, we will ultimately be healed when our lives are over. Regardless of how our spiritual healing takes place, we will ultimately be healed when our lives are over. Regardless of how our emotional healing takes place, we will ultimately be healed when our lives are over. Regardless of how our mental healing takes place, we will ultimately be healed when our lives are over. Jesus will raise us up at the end of time and it will be because our sins have been forgiven. Are your sins forgiven? Have you accepted that forgiveness?
Jesus Christ is our healer. He wants what is best for us in this life time and the one to come. He sees your hurts and your brokenness. He sees your family members in the hospital. He sees you who are in prison. He sees you who have no employment. Jesus saw all the sick and diseased and demon possessed in the Bible and He also sees your situation and He wants to heal you. Are you ready to be healed by Jesus? Today is the day to respond.
Parry Stelter is originally from Alexander First Nation and is founder of Word of Hope Ministries and lives in Edmonton, Alberta. http://www.wordofhopeministries.ca
