On Wednesday of this week, I went to the Hospital for the Sick Children (SickKids). It was my second visit to that hospital. I first went there to see and pray for a child attending my former church. My second visit to the hospital this week was different from the first because I brought my youngest son to see a doctor at this time. The outcome of the child’s blood work was much better than the previous ones. His illness is all about the count of platelets. The number was still below the normal range, but it was far higher than before. The doctor said it was a good sign. I, first of all, thank God for His healing mercy and appreciate my church family for their prayers for my family.
My visit to SickKids this week was thankful, but my heart was breaking when I saw some sick children there. The clinical department we visited was Hematology/Oncology. I saw some children there with no hair and pale faces. I needed no specialty in hematology and oncology to realize that their illness was much more serious than my little boy’s. I saw a little girl looking like she had leukemia and her father, who spoke no words and just sat and waited for a call. I wanted to go and hug them, but I did not have enough courage to do that. I just prayed for them.
I had heard the good news about my son but I was so sorry for those kids who were still sick. It is so touching to listen to the testimonies of God’s healing for His children. However, sometimes, we meet patients who have been battling a long illness, and other times, we meet people who are dying from difficult health issues. We pray for God’s healing for them in a special way. But sometimes, our prayers are not answered as we wish.
When I studied at Andrews Seminary, I took the course “Preaching from Daniel”. The instructor was an inspiring and powerful preacher and a Bible scholar. I was assigned to preach Daniel 3, which contained the story of God’s miraculous deliverance of Daniel’s three friends from the burning furnace. I had prepared for my sermon in class hard and preached it. My sermon went great, and I received much good feedback from the professor and classmates. At the end of the feedback, the professor asked us a question. “What would you say as a preacher to those who have not been delivered from their tribulations, unlike Daniel’s three friends?” Then he told us about John the Baptist, who was beheaded in the dungeon.
John was a forerunner of Christ. Jesus said he was greater than anyone among those born of women (Matt 11:11). But he was imprisoned because he had pointed out King Herod Antipas’ sin, as he had taken his brother’s wife. He had dedicated his whole life to Christ, but Jesus did not visit him while he was in prison, even just once. Queen Herodias hated him very much, so she first let her daughter please the king through her dance and then let her ask the king to give her John’s head. The request was granted, and just like that, John was killed miserably. Why did he have to come to such an end? Did God forsake him? Allow me to quote some portions of Desire of Ages.
But for the sake of thousands who in after years must pass from prison to death, John was to drink the cup of martyrdom. As the followers of Jesus should languish in lonely cells, or perish by the sword, the rack, or the fagot, apparently forsaken by God and man, what a stay to their hearts would be the thought that John the Baptist, to whose faithfulness Christ Himself had borne witness, had passed through a similar experience! (DA 224.2)
Though no miraculous deliverance was granted John, he was not forsaken. He had always the companionship of heavenly angels, who opened to him the prophecies concerning Christ, and the precious promises of Scripture. These were his stay, as they were to be the stay of God’s people through the coming ages. To John the Baptist, as to those that came after him, was given the assurance, “Lo, I am with you all the days, even unto the end.” Matthew 28:20. (DA 224.4)
God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him. Not Enoch, who was translated to heaven, not Elijah, who ascended in a chariot of fire, was greater or more honored than John the Baptist, who perished alone in the dungeon. “Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29. And of all the gifts that Heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor. (DA 224.5)
Unlike Daniel’s three friends, John the Baptist was beheaded. He was lonely and suffered a lot. But he trusted in the Lord in prison to the end. In that way, he prepared and partook in the way of Christ, even in suffering and death. Like John, the spotless Son of God suffered and was crucified to deliver us from sin and death. God never forsook His Son, even while He was being crucified. God never abandoned John, even while he was in prison as well. And He will never forsake us even while we or our loved ones are sick, suffering, poor, financially needed, and in any other circumstances. My prayers are with you, those who have been going through difficult times, especially for those who are struggling with health issues. Let us continue to trust in and pray to the Lord. May God bless you!
Pastor Dae-Eun Kim