Pain is good. The Marines say that "pain is weakness leaving the body." Rich Mullins sang of a "hurt that can heal with its pain." People who suffer from congenital analgesia probably wish they could feel pain. Folks with this condition are subject to all kinds of difficulties because they can't feel that they've chewed off the end of their tongue, or broken a bone, or have rested a hand on a hot burner. For them, the early warning system that pain is for most of us is absent.So pain is good.
Pain keeps us from further injury or danger.
Pain is a deterrent from risky behavior and sin.
There is a pain in separation that reminds us how great our love for others is.
There is a pain that reminds us when we have strayed from our heavenly Father.
Ahhhh. Pain. However, pain will not always be the odd ally that it is now. In fact, we won't need it all. And it will be banished along with the rest of the curse that causes creation to groan.
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8:20,21
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and . . . He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:1,4
The reason there will be no more pain on the new earth is because there will be no need for it; there will be nothing left to harm us.
No Spirit-grieving backsliding will occur.
No more suffering in the furnace of purification will be necessary, because our sanctification and glorification will be complete and all the dross will be removed once and for all.
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