In 1996 I hurt my left shoulder. The tendons had become inflamed, which resulted in excruciating pain when I tried to put on a tee-shirt. So I went to Kaiser hospital, where I was given the really nice drugs of Motrin (for pain relief) and Robaxin (for the inflammation). I am extremely grateful for these wonderful drugs.
Before I took them, my inflamed shoulder caused me so much agony that all I could do was writhe on my bed in great pain, but now even though the tendons are not yet fully healed, these pills allow me to function in all my daily duties. However, I was also given a fact sheet that listed the possible side effects of these two drugs, which are: a pounding heartbeat; confusion; depression; black, tarry stools; irregular breathing; buzzing in ears; shortness of breath; skin rash, hives or itching; sore throat and fever; swelling of face; drowsiness.
The side effect I have felt from this medicine has been drowsiness, so I have been spared some of the more extreme repercussions of these two drugs. In the same way, being a Christian is like taking a powerful drug that brings us instant and lasting relief from all the horrors that sin releases into our planet and into our lives.
Before we accepted Jesus, we all were writhing from the painful consequences of sin, but after we received him as our personal Savior, we now enjoy great relief from both temporal and eternal pain. But there are side effects that come with being a Christian, and that is the suffering of persecution: "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2 Timothy 3:12 Keep in mind that although persecution can be most painful, it is only a side effect. Although all Christians have to endure mockery and ridicule from the world at large through the abusive media, most of us never pass through the terrible tortures that the Apostle Paul had to endure. 2 Corinthians 11:23-30
Yes, there is specific suffering that comes from being a Christian, but it is nothing compared to the pain and torment that inevitably comes to unrepentant Pagans when God gives them over to the consequences of unrestrained sin. Romans 1:18-32
