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Bible Study Discussions with Gary Panell

Question: I have herpes and I want to know what do I do now living with this disease, how do I get married now and start a family? How does God look at me, and what do I do from here?

Answer: You want to know how does God look at you, and I would say to you--if you have repented of your sin and received Christ as your Savior, He looks at you as this verse says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) People may look at your disease but God sees your heart. "For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b) If you have not repented of your sin and received Christ as Savior, you can do that right now.

You see, when we get saved we get to start our life over again in a sense. St. Paul says, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have arrived; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14) Paul had a lot of things to regret if he wanted to look back, but we are not to look back, but forward as Christians. As far as God is concerned our sins are buried in the deepest sea, and He wants us to put a sign there that says: NO FISHING!

He says He has removed our sin from us as far as the east is from the west. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12)

I could go on and on with these kinds of Scriptures, but I will end this part with this verse: "For He (God the Father) made Him (Jesus the Son) who knew no sin to be sin for us (as He died on the cross), that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) You see when we receive Jesus into our lives; God takes away our sin, and puts in its place the righteousness of Christ. What more could we ask for!

To answer your other questions, you have the scars of the life you lived before, but I have seen God heal even these sometimes. You can pray for healing and God may very well deliver you from even Herpes, but then again He may tell you like he told Paul, my grace is sufficient for you. Paul had seen many healed of all sorts of diseases, but he was left with a sickness in his own body that God did not take away.

When God allows this He has some good reason for it. "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

If God does not see fit to heal you, I am told that the disease is manageable. You may find some help looking at the internet information, but you will probably need to see a doctor over this. You would be able to get advice from him or her on the marriage situation. I would say this, that if God wants you to marry, He will bring the right one along for you in His time that will be willing to live with the disease, if you are not healed by God. If He heals you, you won't need to think about it. If you haven't done it yet, I would go to a church that believes in healing and ask to be prayed for, because that is what God asks us to do. "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." (James 5:14-16)

As far as children are concerned, I believe God can do this miracle too if it is His will for your life. I would pray for God's perfect will to be done. He loves you with a love that you cannot imagine, and He will give you the desires of your heart if you will put Him first in your life! "Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:4-5)

We are praying for you!

Gary T. Panell

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Gary Tomás Panell
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Keywords: herpes, STD's, sexually transmitted diseases