History records many astounding miracles of physical healing, but even the most dramatic healing – that of being raised from the dead – is, of course, only partial, for the one raised must die again. Restoration to physical life does not, and cannot, change the body from a corrupted to an incorruptible state. Only resurrection can achieve that. The same point may be made in relation to other terms denoting absolute or perfect health states. Wellbeing is one such term. Relative wellbeing, like relative health, is achievable in our present corrupted world. But perfect wellbeing, in the sense of being fully well, must await the transformation of the resurrection. The oft quoted World Health Organisation definition of health reflects such an absolute view, describing health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ (WHO, 1946). Apart from this being an unobtainable state given the human condition, this definition represents an understanding of personhood that is limited to mind, body, and social relations. The main problem with this definition is that it lacks any reference to the most fundamental healing need of all, the spiritual, and if you remove the spiritual from your view of healing, you will never attain to complete healing! In such a definition there is no recognition that we are spiritual beings. A more accurate definition of health might sound something like this: “Health is a state of complete physical, psychological, spiritual and relational well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” When we choose Jesus, we take the greatest step of spiritual healing possible.
