Tormented With Pain

Luke 16:22-26

I don’t know how many more health care appointments I can survive. At the age of sixteen, I broke my arm and it ended up being 6 hours and three hospitals later before a cast was put on and pain medication prescribed. Sometime later, I went to a low-income dental clinic to have a tooth pulled, supposedly a routine procedure. He ended up stitching my gum closed and left fragments of the tooth inside the gum. Some weeks later, fragments of my tooth starting to work themselves out from the side of the gum. Sometime later, I was scheduled for a colonoscopy, and it was badly botched. I ended up being a code blue and was taken to the ICU for an overnight stay. Sometime later, it was discovered I had a buildup of fluids on my left testicle. They could drain it, or cut the water sack out surgically, or leave it be and I would use Motrin and Epsom salt for the occasional pain. I chose the Motrin and Epsom salt. Just recently, I had the second cataract surgery performed. After the surgery, my eye was in so much pain that I laid down all day. 2 weeks later and I’m still not seeing clearly. Last year, my other eye was done and although I’m seeing much clearer, I’m still seeing black floaters.

“I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

Sufferings abound all across the nation and the glory in us should not be dependent on opioids. America is said to have an opioid crisis, and opioids are prescribed to relieve pain. I’m not sure if it is as much an opioid crisis as it is a pain crisis. People are also using illegal opioids such as fentanyl to relieve their pains. Pain comes in many forms, not just physical. This world probably feels like hell to many, many people and all they want is a little drop of relief. “In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So, he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.” Luke 16:22-24 When we enter the City of Heaven, it will be the tormenters seeking a drop of water to soothe their agony, and we will be comforted.

Luke 16:22-26
“The time came when the beggar died, and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So, he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”