Pain is not fun at all.  When something hurts in our body and it is a severe pain especially it makes us miserable from top to bottom.  It seems we can't do anything without the pain influencing what we do and how we do it.  The other thing about pain is it is noticeable no matter how hard you try and fake it.  People can tell.  A little girl went up to her mother one day while holding her stomach saying, "Mommy, my stomach hurts."

Her mother replied, "That's because it's empty, you have to put something inside it!"  She then prepared a bowl of soup.

Later that day when the Pastor and his wife were over for dinner.  The pastor began to feel bad.  Holding his head he said," I have such a terrible headache!"  The little girl looked up at him , giving him the sweetest smile that any little child could give.  Then she said, "That's because it's empty, you have to put something inside it!"  Careful, I heard those laughs out there.  What a cute story about how pain hurts.

Not only does Pain Hurt.  But Pain helps.  Last week we celebrated the Lord's Supper at our church on a Sunday morning.  What a wonderful service it was because we had a drama to go along with it entitled the "Living Lord's Supper".  It brought to life the night Jesus broke bread with His disciples and told them a traitor was among them and of His impending death as their leader.  Inthis situation Pain helps.  Were it not for the Pain and the suffering of Christ on the Cross we would be utterly hopeless.  Our destiny would be sure and it certainly would not be with the Lord.

Pain can also not only help but Pain can also help and it can also bring Hope.  Because Jesus suffered on the cross you and I do not have to.  I don't believe we fully grasp the fact that unless we go out into the highways and byways and compel them to come in we are not giving or spreading Hope to the Hopeless.  The Lord never one time said, " Let them come to you."  Just create this Holy Huddle and they will come.  In fact that is the exact opposite of what He instructed us to do.  He instructs us to be on the offensive and reach out to those who come in our path with the Gospel of the good news of Christ.  Pain binges hurts, pain helps, and pain brings hope.  Pain also can honor God.

Over and over again the scripture is replete with those who have suffered for the name of Christ and time after time they honor God with a testimony to HIS faithfulness.  God loved us enough He sent His best.  Not a substitute so the real thing would not get hurt or suffer pain or be dishonored but Christ was in pain so we might be pain-less.  He bore our sins on the Cross.  "Oh, what a Savior".

Dr. Lee Singley

Pastor

Wall Highway Baptist Church