Bro. Eli: Pain is Essential in Life to Make People Stronger

Why do people need to experience physical and spiritual pain before knowing God?

To the question by one of the inquirers during the recent Worldwide Bible Exposition, Bro. Eli Soriano explained that just as pain is a part of life, it plays a vital role in a person’s life.

The multi-awarded Ang Dating Daan radio-television show host told the inquirer from Singapore, Ms. Baby Morales, that pain is very important in the life of a person. “It’s part of life. [Thus] pain signifies life.”

Using as example what people with diabetes feel in relation to pain, Bro. Eli explained that a diabetic person’s nerve endings have been destroyed by high sugar levels in their blood, incapacitating their feeling of pain.

Why God Allows Pain

Reading Ecclesiastes 3:10, Bro. Eli explained why God allows His children to suffer pain. The verse reads —

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

The international televangelist further added: “When you get used to difficulties, you’ll be able to bear them.”

Bro. Eli also cited passages from the acclaimed Filipino bard Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar, who said that people raised up in pleasures are usually barren or wanting.

Balagtas wrote:

Ang laki sa layaw karaniwa’y hubad

Sa bait at muni’t sa hatol ay salat

Masaklap na bunga ng maling paglingap

Habag ng magulang sa irog na anak

[He who grew up in pleasures is usually wanting

In sense, in reflection, in judgment lacking

A bitter fruit of wayward caring,

(And) compassion of a parent to his beloved offspring]

Those who grew up in difficulties, however, have hope, and cited Lamentations 3:27-32. The Overall Servant of the Members Church of God International (MCGI) said that his experience making a living at an early age can attest to the advantages of growing up in adversity.

There are those who commit suicide for experiencing just a little hardship in life. The Old Path host said these people are the ones accustomed to revelings and luxuries. So when hardship comes and pain becomes unbearable, suicide seems to be the only solution to end their sufferings.

In an article published by TheRichest.com, “10 Countries With the Highest Suicide Rates in the World” (September of 2014), it mentioned a study by the World Health Organization that estimates that one person commits suicide every 40 seconds.

“It’s [thus] better that we feel pain and suffering. We need it to make us stronger, to develop resistance against all sorts of things that may come in our lives,” stressed Bro. Eli.

He pointed out that it is a reason why God allows people to experience both physical and spiritual pains. “The pain of the heart strengthens the heart. Pains and afflictions can edify conviction.”

The Worldwide Bible Exposition of the Members Church of God International is hosted by Bro. Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon, where its guests can ask the MCGI Overall Servants any question about faith live and for free.

During the event, more than 1,360 monitoring centers in the Philippines and abroad participate via Internet and satellite, along with MCGI’s Mobile Coordinating Centers.

For more information about MCGI’s upcoming events, please see MCGI’s online calendar, or email us at info@mcgi.org.

Source: 10 Countries with the Biggest Suicide Rates in the World

(Written by Rigor Arellano)