It’s Alzheimer’s – It’s Time For Extraordinary LoveSample

Is Alzheimer’s disease a punishment from God?

By Pastor Curt Seefeldt, Director of Church Relations at The Lutheran Home Association

As Christians, we know that Alzheimer’s disease is not a punishment. That is because God does not make people pay for their own sins on this side of eternity. Jesus has suffered all the punishment for every sin, for every person.

Scriptures assure us, “The punishment that brought us peace was upon him [Jesus], and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

In this passage, the “punishment” Isaiah refers to is the horror that Jesus suffered on the cross. It was more than just the pain of the crucifixion. Jesus told us as much when he cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). His punishment also included being rejected by God, the Father. His own Father! Jesus was, therefore, separated from the Giver of all that is good. This is the punishment we deserve, but Jesus willingly took our place to endure it for us. 

Isaiah spoke about the result when he wrote that Jesus’ punishment brought us peace (with God) “and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). The punishment Jesus accepted in our place paid for the sins of the whole world. In his own words, Jesus called his sacrificial act a “ransom” payment (Mark 10:45). Ransoms are the prices people pay to provide freedom for others. When Jesus paid our ransom, he set people free from facing the punishment for their own sins.

Since this is what Jesus set out to do as he went to die on the cross, the words he spoke just before his death are of the utmost significance. Jesus said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). He was telling the world that the work of paying for sin was complete.

Jesus had drained the cup of God’s wrath for sin, so all sin was now forgiven. All who trust in Jesus receive his forgiveness, and where there is forgiveness of sin, there is no more punishment for sin. Moreover, with his rising from the dead, Jesus showed in unmistakable terms that he was totally successful in providing salvation. 

This is why we know that no disease, even Alzheimer’s disease, is a punishment for what people have done. The Lord is in no way inflicting Alzheimer’s on you or your loved one to make someone pay for a past misdeed. God says he does not operate that way, and God does not lie (Titus 1:2). His promise of forgiveness assures us that he pardons the guilt we have for every sin. 

God wants us to have peace from knowing our sins are forgiven. If we ever have any doubts, he invites us to look to his Word. Paul spoke in glowing terms about how extravagant God was in giving the undeserved gift of forgiveness: “In him [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding” (Ephesians 1:7,8, emphasis added). Jesus’ forgiveness is superabundant. Never will it be that Jesus’ forgiveness comes up short, leaving us to pay for even one of our own sins. So again, Alzheimer’s is not given to us or our family to make somebody pay for sin.

Prayer: 

Dear Savior, when I or people around me struggle with our thinking, set our thinking straight. Curiosity about why things happen can lead us to think you are punishing us when we face serious health issues. Help me to replace my errant thoughts with your words which assure me you received all the punishment for the sins of the world, mine included. With your action, there is no more punishment for sin on this side of heaven. Help me feel I am surrounded by your loving forgiveness by knowing I have redemption through your blood. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.