The origin and purpose of pain

[Not_By_Chance]

To some extent, pain is another one of life's mysteries. If you are one of the few individuals in the world who never feels physical pain, how could anyone explain to you what it feels like? It would be like trying to explain colour to a person who had been born blind and never been able to see. I suppose the closest one could get would be to explain that it's a particular kind of suffering - something that might be partially understood by someone who had suffered emotional pain.

So what is pain and what is its purpose? Why can it be so intense that it can cause the sufferer to have a heart attack? Is it a punishment from God? The reason I ask is because God refers to it immediately after the fall of man and of course, it figures heavily in Hell as Jesus made plain.

 

[rockytopva]

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! - Isaiah 14:12

Lucifer - heylel in the Hebrew (light bearer) from halal - Or to shine
***Note as this is a Hebrew word it is not a king of Babylon
***And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. - 2 Cor 11:14

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth. - Revelation 12:3-4

I believe that before the big bang there were three sets of Arch-Angels and that this universe, along with the creation of man, was instigated by Lucifer's fall.

1. Michael - Over strong angels
2. Gabriel - Over wise angels
3. Lucifer -Over worshiping angels

You have got to believe that there were vacancies in heaven after the fall of Lucifer and his third of the angels. I imagine that God could have just created another third to replace the vacated positions. But... Why not create man and let him suffer for it? Therefore when the third of the heavens are re-filled, man should have a great appreciation for what God has done for him. It would have been better then just re-creating the void left by the third of the rebellious angels.

 

[Poppyseed78]

Having chronic pain has taught me to be more grateful for the blessings I have, and for the moments that are free of pain. I can count on one hand the number of pain-free days I had in the past year. It would be easy to wallow in despair over it, but I try to have hope and see the beauty in the good things.

 

[bling]

Lazarus in the story of "the rich man and Lazarus", seemed to be in a lot of pain, but he was there to provide the very best opportunity for the rich man to experience Godly type Love. The rich man did not cease the opportunity God/Lazarus provided which is tragic, but in the end God made it up to Lazarus in heaven.

 

[Robert76]

I've heard it said that pain is a blessing and a teacher. When we experience physical pain, we learn to try avoiding future encounters with the source of that pain. When we experience emotional pain, we (who believe) turn to God for comfort and assurance. I tend to agree with this idea that God has created us just as lovingly to experience pain as much as we were lovingly created to experience joy... but it does take perspective. If all we experience is good, then what is "good" without the knowledge or experience of that which is "bad"? Pain reminds us too of our human nature and our need for a Heavenly Father. It can be used to 'mature' us in our faith - we aren't tested (nor do we grow) in the peaks, but only in the valleys of life. Pain is the means by which we can have compassion for those in a lost and hurting world. This reminds me of the song, "How Deep The Father's Love For Us" (just a few verses below):

How deep the Father's love for us,
how vast beyond all measure
that He should give His only Son
to make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss.
The Father turns His face away
as wounds which mar the Chosen One
bring many sons to glory.

 

[Hillsage]

I often tell my patients that pain is an alarm system, that 'something is wrong'.

The story is told of a man who was walking down the road with an individual with advanced leprosy, a disease which destroys pain sensitivity. When he looked down, he noticed that the man with leprosy, was walking on his lower leg bones because both weak ankles had rolled clear over. Alarmed, he quickly pointed it out to the leprous one. The leper looked down and said; "How can one ever live without pain?"