Sickness and Death Are God’s Enemies

When God created the heavens and the earth, Scripture declares that everything He made was good. But when He created humanity, He went a step further: “very, very good” (meod-meod in Hebrew). Humanity was the pinnacle of creation, made in His image and entrusted with dominion over the earth.

God’s design was intentional. Adam was first given the responsibility of stewardship before Eve was created. This was not because God valued one above the other, but so that Adam might recognize his need for partnership and receive Eve as equal—not with pride, but with gratitude. Sadly, even today, we still see traces of male-dominated traditions that fail to reflect God’s original intent for mutual honor and equality.

God’s Perfect Creation and the Two Trees

In Eden, God withheld two things: sickness and death. His design was for humanity to flourish in life and wholeness. At the center of the garden were two trees:

1. The Tree of Life – freely available, symbolizing eternal fellowship with God.

2. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil – off-limits, representing trust and obedience.

But when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden tree, they forfeited access to eternal life and introduced sickness and death into the human story. They surrendered dominion to Satan, who used it to distort creation and wage war against humanity—God’s image-bearers.

The Enemy’s Agenda vs. God’s Redemption

The book of Job shows how Satan used his stolen authority to accuse and destroy. His agenda has always been the same: to corrupt what God called “very good.” Yet the cross changed everything. Through Jesus—the second Adam—the authority Adam lost has been redeemed. The Lamb of God, through His sacrifice, reclaimed what was stolen and reconciled us back to God.

This is why sickness and death must be seen for what they are: enemies of God. Jesus spent much of His ministry healing the sick and raising the dead. If these things were “God’s punishment,” why would Jesus fight against them? He came to reveal the Father’s heart—a God of life, not destruction.

Why Was Adam Forgiven but Satan Not?

A question often arises: why was Adam forgiven when he disobeyed, but Satan was not? The difference lies in their choices.

• Satan chose rebellion with full knowledge, fueled by pride. He severed himself from God deliberately, despising His presence.

• Adam and Eve were deceived because they did not fully understand their identity in God. Their disobedience, though serious, left room for redemption.

This is why Scripture reminds us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 4). Satan despised it; Adam and Eve neglected it. But through Christ, we are restored to walk in it.

Knowing Our Identity in Christ

The key difference between defeat and victory is knowing who we are in Christ. “As He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). Our identity is anchored not in Adam’s failure but in Jesus’ triumph.

So when sickness and death appear, we must not accept them as “God’s will.” They are works of the enemy. And Scripture assures us: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

God is for us. He is for life. He is for wholeness. He is for His creation to walk in victory over everything Satan intended for destruction.