John 11:4

"This sickness is  not unto death." 

John 11:4 

Charles Spurgeon 

From our Lord's words we learn that there is a limit to sickness. Here is an "unto" within which its ultimate end is restrained, and beyond which it cannot go. Lazarus might pass through death, but death was not be the ultimatum of his sickness. In all sickness, the Lord saith to the waves of pain, "Hitherto shall ye go, but no further." His fixed purpose is not the destruction, but the instruction of his people. 

1. The limit is encouragingly comprehensive. The God of providence has limited the time, manner, intensity, repetition, and effects of all our sicknesses. Each throb is decreed, each sleepless hour predestined, each relapse ordained, each depression of spirit foreknown, and each sanctifying result eternally purposed. 
2. This limit is wisely adjusted to our strength, to the end designed, and to the grace apportioned. Affliction comes not at haphazard. The weight of every stroke of the rod is accurately measured. He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and meting out the heavens, commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients which compose the medicine of souls. 
3. The limit is tenderly appointed. The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than absolutely necessary. "He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." A mother's heart cries, "Spare my child"; but no mother is more compassionate than our gracious God. The thought is full of consolation, that he who has fixed the bounds of our habitation, has also fixed the bounds of our tribulation. 

I thank God every day for making life so very beautiful. Every word, every thought, every action is a part of a beautiful and intricate web, that we are a part of. What a magnificent thought that we can be a part of God's great plan for the universe. No matter how small and seemingly insignificant we are, we can sometimes catch glimpses of something bigger, grander, and more beautiful than anything here on earth. And I find that a truly stunning idea. 

To think that the entire universe is out of our reach and yet God reaches down and kindly lets us be a part of his unrevealed plan.  

And remember that the meaning of life is to find your gift and share it with the world just as God shared his greatest and most perfect gift with us. We are in this together and with God's help we will make it to the other side of paradise.