Good Morning! I hope all of you have a Blessed New Year!!! I hate to start the year out talking about pain. We will all suffer some kind of pain this year, but as Christians, our Lord, helps us through the pain by redeeming us and giving us peace. Ultimately, when we go to be with Him, He will give us a new body that will never feel physical or mental pain. Praise God!
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:22-25)
We who have had children know that childbirth produces incredible pain. Men who have had a kidney infection or have been wounded in battle also know extreme pain. Living life is painful, both physically and mentally. We groan in pain from our body’s decay and for the sin of its flesh. As Christians, we express outwardly the hope we have because of God’s grace of redemption and eternal life, but we are still not free from pain. Pain is helpful as a reminder to pray. When we pray frequently, we learn that the Spirit of God gives us joy in the midst of heartache. We can wait patiently for the time when our bodies will be set free from pain and we step into glory that we can’t even imagine. “Our body is like a house we live in here on earth. When it is destroyed, we know that God has another body for us in heaven. The new one will not be made by human hands as a house is made. This body will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 5:1) Our new, perfect bodies, will last forever. When we rise into heaven and receive them, we will be living proof that we are the Sons and Daughters of God!
I do not believe that there will be pain in Heaven. Not physically or mentally. Pain is something that our Earthly bodies must endure. Is pain a test of our strength and loyalty?
I think pain or any hardship that we endure is to bring us closer to God and his love. I’m not sure I would call it a test. I think the following Bible verse applies: Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 Grace is all of God’s gifts to us that we don’t deserve (making us His sons and daughters, righteousness, eternal life, etc.) We know that Paul prayed three times to the Lord about his problem, so Paul did pass the test of going to God, if you want to call that a test.