Healed at Last

by Scott Blackwell

Meningitis at the age of three left Scott Blackwell with a legacy of serious life-long health problems, including the severe limp he still walks with. But his physical ailments were only the half of it. By his own admission, he found himself at the age of eighteen "tired, starving, sick, experimenting widely with any drug I could find, mildly suicidal, and alone."

This book tells how God brought profound healing into Scott Blackwell's life. But is is also the story of Scott's search for what the Bible teaches about physical healing, in this life and the next. Many Christian pastors make strong claims today about God's promise to heal all our physical illnesses. What are we to make of these claims? What does the Bible actually teach about healing?

Scott's examination of these important issues is personal, warm, practical and often funny. But it is also clear, thorough and compelling in its presentation of the Bible's teaching about healing.

Healed at last offers truth, hope and encouragement for everyone who longs to be healed.

Genres: Medical

199 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the old saying goes, there are two certain things in life – death and taxes. Due to the impact of sin, our bodies undergo a process of decay that will eventually result in all of us eventually succumbing to the ceasing of all bodily functions. No matter how healthy we eat, how much we exercise, or how many vitamins we take to try and put off decay, death will come knocking at some point. While this may sound rather morbid, understanding what Scripture says about the reality of this physical decay, whether that decay happens over time or whether it springs upon us from birth or later in life in the form of some disease, is vitally important. With the plethora of televangelists and other so-called faith healers claiming that if you touch the television screen, send in a prayer cloth, or simply muster up enough faith you can then be healed, clarity on this issue is needed. Scott Blackwell, in his book Healed at Last: Separating Biblical Truth From Myth efforts to provide that need clarity.

Scott Blackwell makes it clear he is one who has suffered since the age of three with a variety of rather debilitating health problems. Such health issues led him to a place in life where he wondered why God was not answering his repeated prayers for physical healing. It was only after God got a hold of him that Scott finally realized that it is only through a true understanding of the gospel message that true healing can take place. While physical healing may not be in God’s plan for Scott, he began to recognize that one day, full and complete redemption will take place and the decay that permeates the universe at present will be replaced with wholeness and perfection, an eternity of everlasting joy in the presence of our Creator God. It is this movement towards redemption that serves as the talking points for Scott’s helpful book.

He rightly declares his repulsion for the popular obsession with supernaturalism evidenced in the ministries of phony faith healers and those who prey on those who are suffering. Blackwell describes such an obsession in the Christian community as an “immature and blinkered understanding of Christian faith, life, and the testimony of Scripture.” I appreciated Blackwell clearly outlining why so many are attracted to the supposed evidence of miracles, specifically the idea that “miracles are evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit; miracles are evidence that Christ has conquered the world; miracles are evidence of the supremacy of Christ; and the absence of miracles is evidence of personal or spiritual failure.” Such nonsense has jaded many individual’s perception of Christianity and served to make God nothing more than a cosmic healer that can be summoned to act for our personal desires if one only has enough money to give to the one who can help do the conjuring or if enough faith can be summoned on the part of the individual.

Blackwell does an excellent job of engaging these aforementioned myths noting in response that while Jesus did perform miracles, the primary purpose of His coming was to be the propitiation for our sin. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is not some magician with the miraculous being the evidence of His existence or evidence that He is around and not asleep on the job. Blackwell rightly reminds the reader that the role of the Holy Spirit is to “teach us the significance of Jesus’ actions and words…The Spirit shines a spotlight on Jesus, on the person and work of God the Son.”

Furthermore, Blackwell aptly notes that those who claim to be working miracles in Jesus’ name are often the very charlatans noted by Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23, namely those who claim to do the work of the Lord but who in the end will be told by God Himself, “I never knew you.” These are harsh but very true words. Blackwell also notes that unless our lives are centered on Christ with Him as the focus of all we do, then Scripture becomes nothing more than a “tool – a means, a magic lamp which, when rubbed the right way, releases the genie inside to grant me the realization of all my dreams and goals. This version of Christianity is sanitized and sanctified selfishness.” Those who are not focused on the reality that one day, when Christ returns, this decay will be done away with, have that desire twisted into an expectation of restoration in the here and now, something that just might not be within God’s will for that individual. Even if healing takes place, death will still visit all of us. Blackwell avers that “it is a godly and righteous passion” to year for that time. With that said, he also declares the need for all to remember that “When my body becomes frail and illness strikes…I only need to look to the cross to remember that I find all of my joy and hope in Jesus alone.” We can have great confidence in the resurrection of Christ and the conquering of the grave, knowing that while our bodies may fail us, ultimately death knows no sting.

Blackwell also does an excellent job of outlining what the Old and New Testaments have to reveal concerning physical healing noting “Healing miracles in the Bible always serve a specific purpose and are never an end in themselves.” What is that purpose? The purpose is always to bring glory and focus to God. In fact, physical healing in this life is a reminder of that future healing, the return to the time of perfection and complete wholeness we started with in the beginning prior to sin. Blackwell also reminds the reader that healing and also the lack thereof is a reminder of God’s sovereignty, His faithfulness, His holiness, and His provision. While physical healing may take place through the hand of God acting on our behalf, the most important healing is that of restoration of relationship with God through the cross of Christ. Blackwell repeatedly drives that important point home to the reader for it is only through the cross that future physical healing can take place in eternity.

I recommend this book for anyone who is experiencing physical maladies or those who need to grasp the true biblical picture of what healing is all about. Far too many have been suckered into a false understanding of healing, typically due to the unbiblical teachings and machinations of those who claim to be speaking healing but instead are doing the complete opposite. Having an eternal and Christ centered understanding of this issue is highly important and Blackwell does an excellent job of reminding the reader that redemption and restoration will one day split the Eastern sky when Christ returns to fully and completely deal with sin, death, and decay for all eternity.

I received this book for free from Matthias Media via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Brodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fairly thorough engagement with the topic of healing in the bible and as Christians, and I appreciated its breadth. I also really liked that Blackwell framed it personally, with helpful engagement in light of his own experiences. There were times when I felt that I lost the through-line of his argument or logic, but, reflecting back, the chapter headings provide a helpful scaffolding for the big picture (and do represent my sense of what we'd explored). Nevertheless, Healed at Last was helpful, biblically faithful, and encouraged not just a right reading of scripture but also a right emphasis. I look forward to chasing down some of the referenced books for further reading.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘If only I had enough faith, I would be healed by now’ or ‘You just need to believe, then you’ll be fully healed’. I don't know about you, but I’ve heard this being reverberated around even in the conservative circles I’m in. So what would you do if you hear someone who walks up to another person and says, ‘You know, you can be fully healed?’ or if a sick church member is asking on your opinion on the healing services that’s being held down the street. How would you response to them?

For some time, I’m quite sure of my own stance towards these ‘miraculous’ healing, yet am not able to articulate it out well to others. Now, I’m quite sure I’ll be able to explain why I think these aren’t necessary biblical. Scott Blackwell, in this very helpful book explains why this is so.

First, Scott gives a quick introduction on himself, and how he could have personally been able to ‘attest’ to such healing, yet because of God’s clear Word, is unable to. Scott then analysis the scene and seeks to explain why some within the christian circles are so keen/eager to witness to such ‘healings'. Scott does spent a bit of space on this topic and though I do not fully agree with his analysis, I think overall Scott has made an accurate and clear analysis of what is happening within these circles currently. One other point that Scott made clear within this section is that life is hard. Too many a times, Christians ‘forget’ that life in this sinfully world is hard! Why should we be so surprised at some of the suffering we would have to go through in this world?

Next, Scott looks into the bible, and from there defends why he thinks such healings are not warranted by the bible. I found this section particularly strong and well worth the price of the book (though the wording of one particular chapter is rather misleading). This section does make any Christian wrestle with these texts themselves, ‘Does the bible gives us warranty for such miraculous healing?’ Now please don’t misunderstand me or Scott, we are not saying we believe in a deist, one who has created the whole world and has now left the world running on it’s own. We do believe God can, and might heal, but that is His prerogative, He might, out of His grace, but no amount of ‘work’ we do will expedite or ‘direct’ such healing.

Lastly, Scott very wisely, deals with the question of promises, what promises does the christian today have? This I thought was a very good ending to the book. Not only does Scott aim to answer against these miraculous healing, but he also aims to build christians up in the correct direction and base their trust in the correct promises. This is commendable and wise, and will definitely be helpful to many christians.

Scott has done an superb job especially in the tone of the book by not outrightly arguing with christians who might have been firm believers in healing, but has gently tried to show them what he thinks is a more biblical way towards this topic and calls them to turn to what the bible says.

Great book, really suited to a topic that’s happening in our day and age, yet not too overly technical or difficult. Recommended for pastors, church leaders and Christians who are interested to think through this issue biblically.

Rating: 4.25/5

[Greg Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Matthias Media has exported theological truth from Australia to the United States. Truth that many American Christians would do well to heed. Healed at Last is a much-needed corrective to the many errors of the so-called faith healing movement.

The author uses his experience to demonstrate the problem with using experience. Scott Blackwell was stricken with pneumococcal meningitis as a young boy. He has suffered with the effects of the disease his whole life. He has prayed for healing his whole life. And his prayers have been answered, just not in the way the faith healers promise. He has received spiritual healing while he waits for that final day when he will receive ultimate healing, that day when Christ makes all things new.

This is more than just a testimony, or a Biblical exposition on healing. Although it is both, this book is also a book on how to properly read and interpret Scripture. In fact I believe that is its strongest point. Blackwell stresses the difference between the descriptive and prescriptive elements of Scripture. If more Christians would understand this division much error in interpretation could be avoided.

I highly recommend this book. Matthias Media freely provided this book for review and there was no expectation of a positive review.

[V Luttrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was right on track with the doctrinal beliefs ! This is book full of truths! In chapter two he talks about healing begins with God!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars