“For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body, so that it may be conformed to his glorious body according to his work, by which he is able to bring all things under himself” (Philippians 3:20,21).
If we make the right choices in our approach to pain, it can have a “refining” effect on us. As a result of experiencing and overcoming hardship, we can become better people with a pure heart. In fact, pain can leave us with character traits so beautiful that they are fit to carry with us into eternity.
None of us can deny that our characters need some improvement. If we compare ourselves to other sinful people, it may seem that our situation is not so bad. But this is a wrong comparison. The standard of comparison is Jesus Christ. If we had never sinned we would have the character we have right now, and that is what God wants us to have throughout eternity.
Pain is a part of the process of renewal and renewal that we have to go through. Given the seriousness of our disease – by our sinful choices, we have declared stubborn rebellion against the God of heaven – we should not be surprised that radical surgery is required to correct the problem. Overcoming the cancer that has invaded our soul cannot be done without feeling our pain.
But God’s work of character renewal will not need to go on forever. If we have been cooperative at the time of renewal, there will come a time when we will be ready – ready to live in a realm where there will be no rebellion against God and no irresponsibility. We’re not there yet, but the time is definitely coming.
So we need to remember the passing nature of pain. It is an ugly reality, yes, but it is still not all reality, and when compared to the reality that is about to unfold – that awaits those who have sincerely sought God – pain can clearly be seen as a temporary problem. At present, it so happens that we are still in the temporary part of God’s plan of salvation. But the eternal part is coming, and this is where our hearts and minds need to be fixed: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our despised body so that it may be conformed to his glorious body.”
“Beauty endures; pain passes” (Auguste Renoir).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
