Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas

Sermon Illustrations

Renoir on Suffering: The Beauty Remains, The Pain Passes

Our greatest battles are not won on the mountain tops of life but during the tough times while we are in the valleys.

Among the famous painters of the French impressionist school, Henri Matisse and August Renoir were the closest friends. When Renoir’s health failed and doctors forced him into confinement for the final decade of his life, Matisse visited him daily. Renoir, almost paralyzed with arthritis, continued to paint at his

easel in spite of his infirmities. One afternoon, Matisse watched his friend painting, fighting torturous pain with each movement and stroke of the brush. He finally blurted out, “August, why do you continue to paint when you are in such agony?”

Renoir never looked up. His eyes were fixed on the canvas with complete

concentration. Then he spoke softly, “The beauty remains. The pain passes.”

What we do here for the Lord remains, is eternal, but the pain and suffering that we might endure on this earth is temporary!

The Beauty Remains. The Pain Passes.

Verse 7-8-In heaven the most important person that shall be there, and what will make it heaven…Is Jesus.

From a sermon by Jimmy Haile, Mountain Top Experience, 12/7/2009

Related Sermon Illustrations

Related Sermons