The Problem of Pain

Problems are real. Pain is real. There's some in this building today who are suffering quietly unmentionable pain. And if you don't get some solution, if you don't have some answer, it'll cause discouragement. You get discouraged in your Christian life. Worse than discouragement, it might cause rebellion. It might cause you to lift a clenched fist in the face of God and say, God, how did you let this happen? Why, God, do I suffer as I do? Or even greater the question, why do my loved ones suffer as they suffer? If you're not careful, you can have a spirit of rebellion. Or if not discouragement and rebellion, just sheer doubt. Doubt. When you look at pain and suffering and heartache and fears and tears, you say, where's God? Find the book of Romans, and find in my favorite book, my favorite chapter in my favorite book, the eighth chapter of the book of Romans. And go to the heart of the book of Romans and find verse 18 in a moment. I'm going to read it. But the message today deals with the problem of pain. Now we have pain. There are many kinds of pain. Physical pain, obvious. Emotional pain, spiritual pain. Man that is born a woman knows pain. And many times we have pain not because of our own choosing. We suffer from wars we didn't declare. And we eat the bitter fruit of plants and trees that we did not cultivate. And if you were to look around the world, around the globe today, you would say there is a problem. And that problem is suffering. There is disease, unbelievable disease. AIDS is ravaging Africa and other civilized countries around the globe. There is starvation and hunger. There is war, pillage, hatred, rape, calamities, natural disasters, storms that come suddenly out of nowhere. And we find ourselves right in the middle of it. What does God's Word say? Look if you will at the key verse here in verse 18. For I reckon, underscore that word reckon in the King James Scripture that I'm reading from, for I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Now the word reckon brothers and sisters is a bookkeeping term. Paul had been doing some figuring. Paul had been adding things up. Paul had been taking inventory. Paul had come to the bottom line. He had done some reckoning and Paul said, I am in the black. I'm not in the red, I'm in the black. Now how do you figure this? How did Paul reckon? Well wrapped around verse 18 is the rest of the chapter obviously. And in the rest of the chapter we're going to see three things as we look at the problem of pain, as we try to make sense out of suffering because we all suffer and if you're not suffering right now, sooner or later you will and I don't want to be negative about that. It's just a fact of life. Our bodies are winding down to the grave. Most of us feel just about as good as we're ever going to feel and it's going to get worse. Sorry about that, but folks that's,

that's the way it is. The sufferings of this present time. No need to deny it. So I want to give you three propositions here and help you to understand the problem of pain. Maybe help us all to make sense out of suffering. Proposition number one, yesterday's curse brings bondage. Yesterday's curse brings bondage. Now notice, go backward or go forward to verse 20. The Apostle Paul says for the creature. Now when he says creature, actually the Greek is the creation. That is everything God created was made subject to vanity. Not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Now, the creation is made subject to vanity. The word vanity means that it does not reach its original conclusion. What happened to the creation is it is subjected to vanity. It is in bondage. Notice verse 21, For the creation itself also shall be delivered, underscore this word now, from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Look around, all of creation is in bondage. Pain and pain, moan and groan, tribulation and trouble, problems and perplexity everywhere. Ours is a sick world and it is a sin sick world. Well, why? Why did this happen? Well, when Adam sinned, Adam dragged the entire creation down with him. It's called the corruption of bondage. God did not create this world this way. Some people say if God created everything, why did God create evil? Why did God create pain? God did not do that. God is a good God. And when God made a creation, God stepped back and God said, It is good. It is good.

God made everything good. Now what this good God did, however, is to make man perfect. Why did God give to man a choice? Because God wanted something for man that is unique, special, wonderful and glorious. He wants man's love. He wants you to love him. That's the highest good, to love God and to love one another. For God is love. Now, why didn't God just force us to love him? Well, forced love is a contradiction in terms. There's no such thing as forced love. Love has to choose. Now, in order for the lover to choose to love, he has to be able to choose not to love. Or else it's forced love and it's not love at all. So what is the highest good? It is love. Man, therefore, must be perfectly free to choose to love God. But in order to have the ability to choose to love God, he has to have the ability to choose not to love God or he has no choice at all. And not to love God is evil. The greatest commandment is to love God with all of your being. So therefore, the greatest sin would be not to love God. Now, Adam and Eve chose to sin because they were perfect and perfectly free. And when they did, this world that we live in fell into the bondage of corruption. We live in a sin sick world.

The Bible calls it the bondage of corruption. So the point, very simple, is yesterday's curse brings bondage. When Adam sinned, he brought all of creation down with him and we're not immune. This world has a viral infection. Now, here's the second thing I want to lay on your heart. Yesterday's curse brings bondage. Tomorrow's conquest brings liberty. Now, notice there's going to be a bright tomorrow because the creature, verse 21, because the creature itself also shall be delivered, shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and prevaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, that is all of the creatures and all of the pagans, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit. Even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption. To wit, the redemption of our bodies. What does it mean, the adoption? Well, a child who is adopted into a rich family, he doesn't get to load until he reaches maturity. He doesn't get all that. I mean, that you don't give. a child of a wealthy king, millions and billions of dollars to spend until he's under caretaker, until he's old enough. That's what he's talking about now. Tomorrow's conquest brings liberty. Now all of creation is moaning and groaning and sighing in grief and distress and really,

I, the ecologist, and I'm, I'm pretty much of an ecologist. I, I believe in ecology. I, I like clean air and pure water and nice trees and I believe in being kind to animals. But you can, you can do all, you can do all you want to do with ecology. But friend, you're not going to change it. If you think you're going to change it or retrieve it through ecology, you, you ought to get your job rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Uh, the golden age is going to come tomorrow. It is tomorrow's conquest, not, not today's energy that's going to change this old world. This world is going to be changed. I mean, planet earth is going to be changed. There will be a new birth for planet earth when Jesus comes again. For example, the animal kingdom that we talked about is going to be changed. Put down Isaiah chapter 11 verses six through nine, the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them and the cow shall eat and the bear shall feed the young one and the cow and the bear shall feed. The young ones shall lie down together and the lion shall eat straw like the ox and the suckling child, that is a little nursing child, shall play on the hole of the asp, that's a poisonous snake, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain. I love this verse for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as waters that cover the sea. When the beast of the wild shall be led by child there shall be peace in the valley. For me not only will the animal kingdom be changed, the mineral kingdom shall be changed. Put down Isaiah 35 verse one, and the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. The Sahara desert will be like the garden of Eden and the vegetable kingdom is going to be changed. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree and it shall be to the Lord for a name and for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. That's going to be one and the human kingdom is going to be changed. Look if you will in verse 23 now Romans 8 23 and not only they but ourselves also which have the firstfruits of the spirit even we ourselves grown within ourselves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of the body. My body is not yet redeemed. I am saved. I'm heaven born and heaven bound but I am waiting for the redemption of the body and so are you. But friend our bodies are going to be redeemed and when we go to heaven we're not going to be towed in by a wrecking crew. We're going to have a redeemed body. What's our body going to be like? It's going to be like his glorious body. Paul knew

that go back to verse 18 and you can understand this look at it. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. Why such glory in us? Because he's going to change our vile body like in his glorious body. Paul said you can't even compare the glory that we will receive with the suffering that we now know. He's going to turn every tear to a pearl, every hurt to a hallelujah and every defeat into a victory and every Calvary into an Easter when Jesus comes. That my friend is tomorrow's conquest that brings freedom. First of all there's bondage then there is liberty, freedom. Now what is the bridge between these two? That's where we're living right now and so here's the third and final thing. It is today's comfort that brings hope. Now if you missed this, I feel sorry for you. Look if you will in verse 24, for we are saved and the word saved means delivered by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for? Hope is something that you don't have in your hand but you know is yours and Therefore, when we have this hope, we understand that the groans that we endure are temporary. I want to show you something in this passage. If you have your Bible open in front of you, I want you to see three times he uses the word groan. First of all, there's the groaning of creation. Look in verse 22. For we know the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Everything has decay, and everything is winding down. Everything is decaying. It's coming apart. All right, and so all of creation groans. Even if you hear the wind blowing through the trees, it seems, Brother Ken, to be in a minor key. Now, there's the groaning of creation, and then there's the groaning of the Christian.

Notice verse 23. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. I've been to the hospital so many times. I've seen the precious saints of God writhing in pain, groaning. They've not sinned. Well, all have sinned, but they're not there because of their personal sin, because some clenched fist in the face of God. Some of God's choicest of saints have suffered. We've all known them, have we not? And yet they groan. There's the groaning of creation. There's the groaning of the Christian. Thirdly, friend, there's the groaning of the comforter. Look, if you will, here in verses 26 and following. Likewise, the Spirit, talking about the Holy Spirit, also helpeth our infirmities. That is, we have infirmities. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Thank God there's one in the glory who groans. We serve a God with tears in his eyes. We serve a God who loves us, who cares, who said, cast all your care upon me, for I care for you. And there's the groaning of creation

and groaning of the Christian and groaning of the comforter, the Spirit. Why did I say comforter? He's called the paraclete. That means one who's called alongside of us. You don't have to bear this alone. Now, listen to me. The suffering that we know is temporary. All of the suffering you'll ever know is this side of the grave. By the way, if you're unsaved, all of the joy you'll ever know is this side of the grave. The suffering, the groans we endure are temporary. The glory that we have is eternal. Now, very quickly, and I must go. Friend, we are prepared for glory. Look in verse 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we're children of God. When pain comes, when suffering comes, when sorrow comes, let the Holy Spirit of God within you bear witness with your spirit that you belong to God. Now, if you don't know you belong to God, friend, you're going to suffer anyway, saved or lost. Man that's born a woman is full of trouble. But there is this, that we are prepared for glory, and then we're predestined for glory. Look in verse 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to his purpose, for whom he did foreknow he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Wait a minute, Paul. You're supposed to say, then he will glorify. That's not what he says. And he glorified. He talks about us being in glory in the past tense. It's as good as done. And what has been settled in heaven can never be annulled in time or by hell. We are prepared for glory. We are preserved for glory. And, friend, I want you to know that we can never be separated from our Lord. No fault can condemn us. Look, if you will, in verses 33 and 34. If you're suffering, let me give you some hope here. In Romans chapter 8, verses 33. And who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather is risen again, who's even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Friend, I have a dear, loving Savior who's praying for me right now as I'm preaching this sermon. We are prepared for glory. We are predestinated. in for glory. We are preserved for glory. No fault can condemn us. No foe can conquer us and no fear need control us. I must go to the end so I'm going to pass some material but look at two of my favorite verses in all of the Bible. And by the way if you'd like a free all expense paid trip to the place of your desire, whatever resort you want to go to, I'll fly you there first class. I'll take care of all of your meals, bring you back home. You stay as long as you like if you can find anything that Paul left out of the statement here. Now listen to it. He's talking about the God who has not only prepared us and predestinated us but has preserved us for glory. Listen to it. For I am persuaded and here's a way to get your vacation so listen carefully. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, anything happens to you after you die or while you're living, you already lost your vacation. Nor angels, what kind of angels? Good angels, bad angels, fallen angels. Nor angels, nor principalities, that means kingdoms. What kind of kingdoms? Just principalities. Earthly kingdoms, heavenly kingdoms. Nor powers, that means authorities, governmental authority, military authority, ecclesiastical authority. Nor things present, anything that's in the world today. Nor things to come. Anything that may ever come. Anything that may be created in the future. Nor height, that means anything in heaven above. Nor depth, anything in hell beneath. And in case he left anything out, nor any other creature. Shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Hallelujah. Praise God. Nothing. So Paul is sitting there. Paul knew suffering. He knew what it was to have the lash laid on his back. He knew what it was to fast. He knew what it was to be pickled in the Mediterranean when he was shipwrecked. He knew what it was to languish in prison. He knew what it was to need food and water and clothing. But Paul says in Romans 8, 18, I've been doing some figuring and I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not even worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us. Now folks, you listen to me. You have a choice. God gave you a choice like he gave Adam a choice. And there's no reason that you should be in hell when all this is going on. There's no reason

you should miss it. Because Jesus Christ suffered and bled and died for you and the last Adam, Jesus, has undone what the first Adam did in the garden of Eden. I'd rather be a saved sinner than an innocent angel to have what we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. Bow your heads in prayer. Now if you're not sure that you're saved, this is your time to get saved. And I want to lead you and guide you in prayer. Right now you can pray and ask Christ into your heart. Would you pray this prayer? If you're not certain that you're saved and you want to know for certain, I promise you on the authority of the Word of God that God will save you today where you are in your seat right now. I'm not asking you to become a Baptist or a Methodist or a Presbyterian or Episcopalian. I'm not asking you to give anything or buy anything. I'm asking you right now to receive someone whose name is Jesus. I take it back. I am asking you to give something. I'm asking you to give yourself to him. Would you pray this prayer? Lord Jesus, thank you that you shed your blood on the cross for me. Thank you that you paid my sin debt with your blood. Thank you that you have prepared me for glory. You predestined me for glory. You are preserving me for glory when I trust you. I do trust you. Come into my heart. Come in right now. Watch my heart. Watch my heart. Wash away my sin. Cleanse me. Save me. And take control of my life. And begin now to make me the person you want me to be. And Lord Jesus, thank you for that. for saving me. I don't look for a sign. I don't ask for a feeling. I just stand on your word. You promised and you cannot lie. So by faith now I want to confess that you're my Lord and Savior. Begin now to make me the person you want me to be and Lord Jesus give me the courage to make it public. Help me not to be ashamed of you. In your name I pray, amen. you