No Pain, No Gain

Hebrews 12:1b-2a Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.

As we approach the Easter season’s Holy week and Resurrection Sunday, I find a Divine and divine coincidence that Pastor JJ’s sermon and our Friday night small group series touch on the same issue of pain. When it comes to pain and the pains of life, do we ever feel overwhelmed by our circumstances or wonder if anyone could understand our pain? Does, sometimes, life with its real problems and facing one struggle after another, often seems unfair? Does God have a purpose in the pain and in justices that we see and experience? Is the author writing our patience, endurance, perseverance, inner strength, and steadfastness in these “trial by fire” difficult circumstances that grow, mature, and perfect our faith and trust in God? Once we entrust our lives to God, aren't we exempt from pain and difficulties of life? Does our relationship with Him provide protection against pain? Did it for Jesus?

Psalm 22:24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard.

Pain is a human condition, but how do we normally respond to pain and metal distress and duress? Doesn't society say to avoid pain, thinking: “How can a good God allow pain”? Are we to pretend that it doesn't exist? Shouldn't we just smile, run from it, find a distraction, or a pill that makes it go away? Jesus didn't avoid the pain of the Cross at Gethsemane, but embraced the pain and suffering in our place for the remission of sin. Picture Christ beaten and scourged, hanging on the Cross without pain, without suffering … its not not the way it is and you can’t. Yet know that by His pain, the Lord saved our life and to life eternal.   

1 Peter 2:23-24 While being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

We are not the main role in this stage, called “Life”, God is. Train yourself to rid your fear of “everything you own” (Luke 18:22-23). We were not created for pain and death, but we live in a “fallen” world, lost in sin. But focus on the “mark” of God, not missing the mark. Set your gaze upon Jesus and nothing more than Jesus. Not ourselves, the world or even the body of the church, but on the head of the church – Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Know that there is a Judge watching the race and that God straightens things out and makes all things “right” in the end. In the pain, there is gain.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-7 Therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.

In Christ, Brian