Why Pain? Lesson 4 Series

A. GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF PAIN OR SUFFERING

1. God created a perfect man and placed Him in a perfect environment.

2. Pain and suffering are the consequences of living in a fallen world. “To the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.’ Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: ‘Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return’” (Genesis 3:16-19, NKJV).

3. The question is not: Why do bad things happen to good people? The question is: Why do good things happen to bad people?

B. GOD’S ULTIMATE PURPOSE

1. To be like Jesus. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29, NKJV).

2. God did not create you to be happy or comfortable. He created you for a purpose. Advertisements: "live without pain” are a myth.

C. GOD SOVEREIGNLY USES PAIN TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE

1. “God whispers in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain” ~C. S. Lewis. Pain is a loudspeaker.

2. Pain protects us from ourselves.

a. Physical pain shouts “STOP.”

b. “Lest I should be exalted above measure ... there was given to me ... a thorn in the flesh was given me, a messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure” (2 Corinthians 12:7, NKJV).

3. Pain strengthens our character. “Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete” (James 1:2-4, TLB).

4. Pain strengthens our faith. “These trials are only to test your faith” (1 Peter 1:7, NLT).

5. Pain prepares you to serve Him better. Joseph was able to feed the world because of what he learned from threats, wrongful imprisonment, lies and rejections. “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20, NKJV).

6. Pain draws us closer to Christ. “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10, NKJV).

7. Pain awakens us, to strengthen our life purpose. “Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10, NKJV).

8. Pain motivates us to action. The pain of a tooth makes us call the dentist. Advertisement for exercise equipment, “no pain, no gain.”

9. Pain guides us and teaches us, i.e., growing pains. “My troubles turned out all for the best—they forced me to learn from Your textbook” (Psalm 119:71, The Message).

10. Pain may protect us from a worse situation.

a. Fever or infection needs treatment.

b. “For I am ready to fall, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin” (Psalm 38:17-18, NKJV).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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