Better Sore Than Sorry

Romans 5:1-6 “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope” (Rom. 5:3-4, NASB). Four days a week is my usual weekly routine for going to the gym to exercise. I cannot recall many days that I do not see Roseanne. Roseanne walks around with a smile on her face as she goes through her exercise routine. Roseanne is a friendly person and based on what I see she has a lot of friends. Roseanne is intense in her workouts. One day she wears a shirt that has inscribed the words, “Better Sore Than Sorry.” This is a true statement. If we want to get the results that we desire from our exercise, there will be times when our muscles get sore. It is not my purpose in this article to explain all the medical reasons that our muscles get sore. Suffice it to say that our muscles get sore when we exercise. We exercise to stay fit and healthy. Athletics and dancers might exercise to improve their performance. If we neglect to exercise our muscles we risk being sorry. We may not accomplish our goal. I want to raise this question; As Christians, are we willing to endure the pain and suffering necessary to be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ? Another question is, what do we think when we see a fellow Christian suffer? What do people believe about suffering? The mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, Megan Barry and her husband Bruce lost their son Max to a drug overdose. There is a great public outpouring of support for the family and people have wonderful things to say about Max. What do people really think? What are they saying privately? In our churches we pray for those who are suffering, but what do we really believe about suffering? Who do we blame? I ask this question because the wife of a dear friend was hospitalized for a heart condition. Through the grapevine I hear that some people are whispering that she had brought it on herself because she smokes. While smoking increases the risk for heart problems, we cannot say that her problems are strictly because of smoking. More important is what should I do about her suffering? As I think about these things, I am reminded of the suffering of our Savior Jesus Christ. He did nothing wrong. He was without sin; and yet it pleased the Father that He should die to take my suffering for my sins. His death gives me eternal life with the Father in heaven. Am I willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel so that people are led to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world? What do people think when they observe suffering? When people see suffering they usually look for someone to blame. Now, this is nothing new. We get a picture of this in John 9:1-5. Jesus and His disciples are leaving the temple because the Jews are throwing stones at Him because they do not like what he says in His teaching. As they are walking along they see a man that is blind from birth. “And His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or His parents, that he would be born blind?”’ Now, it is true that sin in the world is the basis for everything wrong in the world. Does this mean that all pain and suffering that a person experience is the result of their personal wrongdoings? If a nurse accidently sticks herself with a needle infected with the HIV virus and becomes infected herself, does this mean that she has committed a sin? Is God punishing her for her sin? What does Jesus say about the blind man? “Jesus answered, ‘It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no man works”’ (vv. 3-4). Jesus tells us not to try to place blame. When we see suffering it gives us an opportunity to minister to the needs of the person. In so doing, we become witnesses to the grace, mercy, and compassion of God. Let me state a practical example of the benefits of suffering. When I was a child, people at that time believed in corporal punishment when their children did something wrong. When my mother got ready to whip me she would sometimes say: “This hurts me more than it hurts you.” I understand from my friends that a lot of the mothers said this to their children. For us, the children, this statement makes no sense. How can it hurt mom more to whip me than the pain I feel? As a parent, I have learned that it hurts to inflict pain and suffering on your child that you love. Parents do not punish their children because they enjoy causing pain. Parents punish their children because they believe that the child’s experience of pain will lead to better behavior of the child. When Roseanne walks around the gym smiling as she intensely works out, she is not discouraged by the pain. She has a goal in mind. She has a purpose in mind. She knows that pain and suffering can be a good thing. In Romans, Paul tells the Christians that there are benefits to suffering. He says that we have been made to have a right standing with God (justification) by our faith in Jesus. This right relationship with God means that we are no longer at war with God or estranged from God. We have peace with God. Paul says that our hope in Christ brings us great joy. Now this sounds reasonable. Then he says something that I believe Christians often have to wrestle with to understand. He says that we exult (rejoice) in our tribulations. Tribulations are not pleasant experiences. Yet, Paul says that we rejoice in the suffering. Why is this? Look at the results. Paul says, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope” (5:3-4). These qualities enable us to be more effective in our witness for Jesus to the world. We suffer because our lives are made better because of the hope that we have in Jesus. Jesus commissions His disciples to endure suffering for the sake of the gospel. The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also the Greek” (Rom. 1:16, NASB). We find an example of their attitude about their suffering in Acts 5:41. Peter and John are imprisoned for preaching the gospel; and in particular the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The high priest and his associates do not believe in the resurrection as they are of the Sadducees. Peter and John are flogged and ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then they were released” (Acts 5:40). Peter and John defy the orders of the Council. Instead, “they go on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they have been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (v. 41, NASB). Peter and John believed that it is better to be sore than sorry. Their example has been followed by Christians around the world in all times. In Revelation 8:9-17 John gives us a picture of the final reward that comes to those who suffer for the name of Jesus. John sees a great multitude dressed in white robes standing before the throne of God. One of the elders identify these as “the ones who come out of great tribulation, and they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb” (v.14). Are you willing to suffer for the name of Jesus? Are you willing to give your life in total surrender to Jesus as Savior and Lord? Are you willing to live according to His commandments (Matt. 28:20)? Will you bypass such a great salvation and enjoy the pleasures and rewards of the world. I encourage you to follow Jesus. It is better to be sore than sorry.