Editorial May 25, 1935 Issue

Rejoicing and Healing

W. Stuart Booth

Although he was imprisoned in Rome when his epistle to the Christians at Philippi was written, Paul was led to counsel them to "rejoice in the Lord alway." Then, as if to explain the justifying reason for his advice, this brave and clear-visioned apostle added, "The Lord is at hand." Many times during his career as an ambassador for Christ, Paul had proclaimed and proved that God, good, is ever present to heal and to save men. Through prayer and songs of praise unto God, deliverance from prison had come to Paul and Silas. Again, when the apostle and those in the ship with him en route to Rome were faced with what seemed to be certain destruction, as the boat was buffeted by a terrific storm, Paul encouraged first himself and then his companions with assurances of God's protecting power and presence; and as a result all were saved.

While he was not a personal disciple of Christ Jesus, Paul probably received from Peter and other disciples much firsthand information about the Master's experiences, words, and works, all of which helped to guide and inspire him in his great missionary activity. More than once Jesus voiced such encouraging words as, "Be of good cheer;" and when to these wondering and incredulous disciples he foretold his crucifixion and resurrection, the Master said, "I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." Truly he who so marvelously overcame evil and so decisively proved God's power and presence by healing sickness and mastering sin and death, had ample reason for rejoicing always in the Lord and counseling his followers to do likewise.

The world's unhappiness, sadness, strife, envy, and fears are occasioned by the beliefs that sin is real, attractive, and influential, that matter is intelligent, causative, and selfacting, and that men are subject to evil and dependent upon matter. That these beliefs are false and powerless was stated implicitly and proved conclusively in his works by Christ Jesus. Through spiritual power and means alone he healed sickness, rebuked sin and forgave the sinner, annulled so-called laws of limitation, and overcame death. He brought glad tidings and great joy to sad but expectant humanity by declaring and demonstrating in his impressive works that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." From his words it appears that happiness and gratitude were regarded by Christ Jesus as important factors in his healing work.

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