This is indeed an incredibly stupid objection against biblical healing, although all objections against healing are stupid, and all critics against healing are stupid, and in deep sin and unbelief. For some reason, I do not come across this one often, but I have heard about it from several people. In one form or another, the objection goes, “If God would always heal, then how can we die?” Sometimes we would spend a decent amount of time teaching on what God’s word says about healing. It says that God’s very name is healing or healer (Exodus 15:26), that his very nature is one who forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases (Psalm 103:3), that Jesus took our infirmities and carried our sicknesses (Matthew 8:17), that the prayer of faith will save or heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up (James 5:15). After all this and much more, without refuting each biblical principle or passage — as if we have said nothing other than making a claim about healing — the person would snark, “But then how are we going to die?”
In death, the spirit leaves the body and returns to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7). This can happen in several ways. You can be a victim and let sickness humiliate this child of God and consume your flesh until it becomes uninhabitable and forces your spirit out. You can be a martyr and get your head chopped off for the sake of Christ and free your spirit to fly back to God — to a hero’s welcome. There is another way. You can be an ordinary Christian who knows his rights in Christ and have faith in God to maintain your health and youth, so that when it is time to die, you simply “fall asleep” in Christ and release your spirit back to God. Many people who had faith in God’s healing power died like this, and the doctors could find nothing wrong with them.
The notion that sickness is the only way to die is the kind of pathetic fallen thinking that Christians should have been redeemed from — many centuries ago. This person who challenged you probably thought that he made a clever retort. But his complaint was against God himself: “God, you have made these promises for healing that leaves no room for sickness and no room for doubt, but if you always keep them — if you are never a liar — then how will we die? Even Paul said to die is gain, you know.” You did not invent the idea that God’s word is God’s will, and that God’s word teaches healing. It is the gospel. Thus he tried to pose a logical dilemma against the gospel itself. When he did that, he became anti-Christ. Any argument against the gospel of faith is always self-damning. In any case, this person has nothing to worry about. Because he rejects the gospel on healing, he will die in just the way he thinks is right — by sickness. With such unbelief toward the gospel, let me assure him that he will never be stuck in this world with too much health. He will die just fine. His flesh will rot in just the fashion he expects.
While we are at it, this person mentioned that Paul said “to die is gain.” What did Paul actually say? Look it up. He wrote, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” Wait a minute. Did he say that he could choose? He appeared undecided as he wrote the verse. It was a hard choice, because he wanted to leave for his own sake, but he wanted to remain for the people’s benefit. Then he chose to stay! He decided to not die! “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all.” Isn’t this hilarious? Boy, your guy really stepped into some deep something-something here didn’t he? You see, for someone like Paul, to live is Christ and to die is his gain but everybody’s loss. It is a hard choice. As for someone like your dude, to live is anti-Christ and to die is everybody’s gain. The whole world is better off when this anti-gospel unbelieving piece of garbage dies. Now the choice is not nearly as hard. Read a text before you use it.
Oh! How I want to linger on the words “to live is Christ”! But Christians — what a disgrace — wish to focus on sickness and death.
When we minister to those with terminal sickness, and who have suffered so long or who are so weary that they want to die, we could urge them to first receive healing to leave a good testimony for God and then die without sickness if they wish. Sometimes they are willing, and we would build up their faith by the word of God and then pray for them. After they are completely healed from the terminal sickness and the doctors have verified their recovery, some would decide to live for a number of years before dying without sickness. They would just fall over, or fall asleep and not wake up, all without sickness or suffering. Some would know hours or weeks ahead of time, and gather their families to bid them farewell, then die praising God, at times seeing into glory and describing the vision as they depart. But some would decide to die anyway and leave soon after their healing, sometimes even before they leave the hospital. If needed, another Christian could lay hands on such a person and release the spirit in the name of Jesus, and the person should die peacefully within a short time.
From: email