Biblical Answer

The question of why God takes away our health is a complex and often puzzling one. From a faulty theology of suffering, we may assume that God only heals us because He loves us and has a wonderful plan for our life. However, this perspective neglects the sovereignty of God and the concept of sin. As the Bible teaches, God is not obligated to heal us simply because we are His children. In fact, He may allow us to experience physical illness as a means of drawing us closer to Him or as a way to teach us to depend on Him. This is not to say that God is the cause of our suffering, but rather that He is the One who allows it to occur. As the psalmist wrote, "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment" (Psalm 51:3-4). Here, the psalmist acknowledges his sin and takes responsibility for it, rather than blaming God for his suffering.

Another way to approach this question is to consider the concept of justification. As the Bible teaches, God justifies us through faith in Jesus Christ, not because of our good works or our health. Justification is about being declared righteous before God, not about being physically healthy. In fact, the Bible teaches that our bodies are temporal and will eventually return to dust (Psalm 103:14). What is eternal is our relationship with God, and it is this relationship that is the focus of our faith. As Paul wrote, "For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate... Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:15, 24-25). Here, Paul acknowledges his struggle with sin and his need for deliverance, which is ultimately provided through faith in Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, the question of why God takes away our health is a complex one that cannot be fully answered in this life. However, we can say that God's sovereignty and our sin are two key factors to consider. While God may allow us to experience physical illness, He is not the cause of our suffering. Rather, He is the One who allows it to occur in order to draw us closer to Him or to teach us to depend on Him. Ultimately, our faith is not about being physically healthy, but about being justified before God through faith in Jesus Christ. As we navigate the challenges of life, including physical illness, we must remember that our relationship with God is eternal, and it is this relationship that is the focus of our faith.