“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 NLT)
Why do you think God allows things on earth that will not be allowed in Heaven? Sin certainly will be exempted from heaven and it’s easy to understand why it cannot be allowed there, but other things like those mentioned in the verse above, have significant value for us who are alive on earth. But how?
There are many aspects of the value of pain, but none so dramatic as its redemptive value seen in the lives of the many who have been transformed by the renewing of their minds and hearts in Christ Jesus. We can stub a toe, cut our finger, have an automobile accident or experience a painful injury or disease and if we’re open to the Lord’s life in us, we can see the ways those things enhance our walk with Him and our ministry to others.
In many ways pain alerts us to make changes that prevent those painful things from happening again. But the greatest lesson, the one that illustrates most vividly the value of pain is the Cross of our Lord Jesus. While He experienced unimaginable agony, torment, and pain we don’t have the capacity to understand, its value is heightened as we realize it wasn’t for anything He had done wrong.
Jesus is the only human being who ever lived who got it all right – from birth to death, from start to finish. Why is that important to understand? Because if the only perfect human being who ever lived suffered pain and heartache, why should any of us believe we should be exempt? His suffering was completely for others, not for anything He’d done wrong.
So, what should that tell us? Pain and suffering aren’t punishment for our wrongdoing, but because we’re part of the human family. Pain and suffering are common to all of God’s creation due to the ravaging effects of sin. One of the values of pain is to heighten our awareness of and attentiveness to our affinity to sin. As a rule, pain is a signal for us to steer clear of whatever the source of our pain; however, while relationships can be a source of much pain, they can also be a source of much delight and pleasure.
Often pain in a relationship isn’t a sign to give up or quit, but to dig in and make it better. Especially in marriage, our commitment to one another and to God must outweigh the pain of any given moment’s disagreement or uncertainties about our future together. Pain’s value is derived from the result of a better, more enjoyable and satisfying life together, the kind of life we can have with the Lord when we learn to deal with the pain of our development as a child of God.
Perhaps this is a season of pain for you, and you’ve not yet weathered the storm and derived the value. Especially in the loss of a loved one, valued relationship, or job, it takes time, but much can be gained, even in the midst of our pain, by spending extended time with the Lord and His Holy Word. Many of the Psalms were written in the midst of painful and hard circumstances.
Seek the Lord’s presence, not just with words, but with YOUR presence. Sit with your open hands, palms up, out in front of you. Why? Two things are accomplished when we do this: first, we offer Him all we have that is weighing us down, troubling us, holding us back (especially our sin), but, secondly, we’re in a position to receive His presence, which is what gives the most value to our pain.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 