Cremation is Not a Cure

The medical profession is working on finding medicines and vaccines to help treat and protect us from the Coronavirus. The best way to avoid pills, shots, and other treatments is to already have an immunity to Covid-19. A few days before the lockdown began I came down with a low grade fever and a dry cough for seventeen days. No one else in my family came down with it. But I was trying to be very careful. One thing we did was stop kissing the dog on the mouth. This was not really my idea. The dog came up with that one. Well, I never did get tested. First of all, I never met the criteria for being eligible for testing. My fever never got above a degree. Furthermore, I try to avoid going to the doctor.

It would not be exactly accurate to say that I would rather die than go to the doctor, but the only doctor I would prefer to see is the one that signs my death certificate. Perhaps, I have a good reason for my MD phobia. Within the first two years of marriage, I came down with an illness. The only real symptoms were fatigue and a slight fever that came on every afternoon. After two weeks of this, my wife made an appointment with a doctor for me. Now, I really didn’t want to go. My main argument was money. As a young preacher with limited funds and no health insurance, I just could not afford to go to the doctor every time I did not feel well.

Well, the doctor was an old gruff character who acted like he didn’t want to see me anymore than I wanted to see him. After a very quick exam I was sent for blood work. Then I waited for over an hour for the results. A nurse led me to his office. His attitude and demeanor were just the same. “Well, I have some good news and some bad news. You have a virus and there isn’t a thing in the world I can do for you except maybe cremate you.” I told him I would pass on the cremation It sounded like the cure was worse than the cold. He did go on to explain that antibiotics did not help with regard to a virus. Although most doctors would give you a prescription for them knowing they would be superfluous, yet he would not.

A few years before I had had another illness. Strange bumps were on my tongue and in my mouth and spots on my feet. Again, after a couple of weeks my wife made me an appointment with a doctor against my protests After a quick look he said I had what was equivalent to hoof and mouth disease (if you know me well it is more accurate to say “foot in mouth” disease). Whatever it was it was a virus. He gave me two prescriptions. I inquired as to what they were for. He said, “one is for pain and discomfort. The other is a low grade antibiotic.” Since I didn’t have much money to spend on medicine, I suggested that I did not need the pain medicine and asked if the antibiotics would cure the virus. The doctor informed me that it would not. “Why should I take it?” He responded, “Just in case you develop an infection, but I serious doubt you will.” “So, why give me a prescription that will not cure me and I most likely will not need,” I inquired. “If I don’t give people a prescription when they come see me they think I am not doing them any good. Most people want a prescription whether they need it or not. It’s up to you whether you get the medicine or not,” was his reply. Well, those two pieces of paper went into the trash and in a couple of days I was well.

The fact is, most illnesses don’t need a fancy or expensive remedy. God has designed the body to heal itself in many cases. However, God did not design the soul to heal itself. You must have a remedy for it. That is why He sent His Son to come and die upon the cross. The only solution for the sin plagued soul is the saving Blood of Christ. It alone can wash away sin.

Let us just suppose for a moment that the medicine prescribed was absolutely essential for my cure and recovery. Let us assume the disease I had was lethal. If the doctor did not tell me he would be not only a poor doctor but responsible for my death. On the other hand if he did inform me and I just threw away or ignored the prescription than I alone would be responsible for my death. Most would agree that my actions would be careless and foolish. Spiritually speaking those who are living in sin must be warned. God told Ezekiel, “When I say to the wicked, `You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul” (Ezek. 3:18,19).

Today many people have their lives troubled with the guilt and pains of sin. They are sin sick and often miserable. They ignore and tolerate their worsening condition. They look for any remedy, except the one God has provided. They hate going to church. They avoid the preaching of the Gospel. The only preacher they would rather see is the one preaching their funeral. Only through obedience to the Gospel can they have a new life (Rom. 6:3f). No one else but Jesus can save them (Acts 4:12).

Now is the time to act. If you had terminal cancer and someone told you where to obtain a free once and for all and immediate cure, what would you do? How long would you wait? What sacrifices might you make? How far would you be willing to travel? What habits would you be willing to give up?

Friends, more than your physical life is at stake. Your eternal soul is in jeopardy.
One day the offer for a cure will be withdrawn. It will be too late. Judgment Day will come and all men will be judged by God’s Remedy (His Son, Jesus Christ) whom you rejected or neglected. The only thing that He will be able to do for your sin sick soul is cremate you. “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15). “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev 21:8). Remember: cremation is not a cure.

– Daniel R. Vess