Revelation 7:16 (KJV) The Paradox of Pain

Revelation 7:16 (KJV)

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

One of the challenges men, even among those who claim to love Him, to follow Him, and to obey Him, make against God is that He allows suffering in this world. Suffering is an obvious and unarguable part of life. The lost world supposes that if God is real, He should prevent such suffering, especially among those that are His children.

The problem with such thinking is that it misdirects the source of trouble and takes a short-term approach to an answer.

They do not consider that the source of the suffering is on the shoulders of sinners - themselves.

Sickness and death may not be directly attributable to the individual, but it is attributable to the original sin. Sin is at fault and they, being sinners, would be highly offended if God were to force them to stop.

Further, they demand solutions in the immediate or at least the short term. 

Being opposed to God in the first place, they see no value in eternal rewards. This is shortsighted in that it should be obvious to them that they can’t possible live here forever. The promise of eternal life with eternal rewards must be appealing.

•        Both the believer and the unbeliever see the problem in suffering
•        Both the believer and the unbeliever see the brevity of life and the suddenness of death
•        Both the believer and the unbeliever seek solutions to these problems

The believer finds his solution in the hope of heaven. The unbeliever finds his solution in the hope that there is no life after death but only non-existence. Both positions are a type of support.

•        One of them has the universal inclination of mankind, the affirmation in the Bible, and the evidence of Christ’s resurrection. 
•        The other position has nothing by which to support itself but the adamant disdain for the first.

#SufferingAndTheologicalChallenge #SinnersAndSuffering #EternalHopeInSuffering #ShortsightedViewsOnEternalRewards #BelieverVsUnbelieverPerspectives #Revelation 

The Paradox of Pain: Short-Term Demands, Eternal Perspectives

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Revelation 7:16 (KJV) The Paradox of Pain

 

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[1] Lost people chide Christians for needing a “crutch.” In fact both groups need some support. The lost just refuse to admit they have one.